used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
burialnounUS /ˈberiəl/
the ritual placing of a corpse in a grave
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
CarsonnounUS /ˈkɑːrsən/
United States biologist remembered for her opposition to the use of pesticides that were hazardous to wildlife (1907-1964)
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
cave-in
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
Cañon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
inflected form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
crownedadjectiveUS /kraʊnd/
having an (artificial) crown on a tooth
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
crushedadjectiveUS /krʌʃt/
treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
dugnounUS /dʌɡ/
an udder or breast or teat
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
extraadjectiveUS /ˈekstrə/
more than is needed, desired, or required
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
set up or found
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
yet to be or coming
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
death of a person
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
irrigating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
Johnnywater
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
junipernounUS /ˈdʒuːnəpər/
desert shrub of Syria and Arabia having small white flowers; constitutes the juniper of the Old Testament; sometimes placed in genus Genista
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
knollnounUS /noʊl/
a small natural hill
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
lackedverbUS /lækt/
past form of “lack” — be without
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
go away from a place
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
long-handledadjective
having a long handle
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
the middle of the day
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
select carefully from a group
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
cut with a saw
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
shatteredadjectiveUS /ˈʃætərd/
ruined or disrupted
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
shoulderedadjectiveUS /ˈʃoʊldərd/
having shoulders or shoulders as specified; usually used as a combining form
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
shovelnounUS /ˈʃʌvəl/
a hand tool for lifting loose material; consists of a curved container or scoop and a handle
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
suitableadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtəbəl/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
thick-branchedadjective
having thick branches
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
very small
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For the time being he must leave the body where it was, crushed under the cave-in.
look attentively
From this reading He looked at his watch and saw that it lacked half an hour until noon.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
in or at the place that
From this reading He found an extra pick, shouldered the long-handled irrigating shovel and set out to find a suitable spot--not too close to the house--where he might give the shattered bones of Steve Carson decent burial.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He chose the tiny knoll crowned with the thick-branched juniper and dug the grave there that afternoon.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There would be time enough to do what he knew must be done, if he were to have any future peace in Johnnywater Cañon.
