used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
agonizingadjectiveUS /ˈæɡənaɪzɪŋ/
extremely painful
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
boughsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
Callista
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
carpetnounUS /ˈkɑːrpət/
floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
clutchingverbUS /ˈklʌtʃɪŋ/
-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
a place off to the side of an area
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
the first light of day
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
debatingverbUS /dəˈbeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “debate” — argue with one another
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
dismissedadjectiveUS /dɪˈsmɪst/
having lost your job
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
father-in-law's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
Flenton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
fro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
gorgeverbUS /ɡɔːrdʒ/
overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
GRIEVER'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROXY GRIEVER'S GUEST.
a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
From this reading ROXY GRIEVER'S GUEST.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
JudasnounUS /ˈdʒuːdəs/
(New Testament) supposed brother of St. James; one of the Apostles who is invoked in prayer when a situation seems hopeless
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
Kimbro's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
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 Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
leanverbUS /liːn/
to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
the act of departing
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
the act of hearing attentively
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
mossesnounUS /ˈmɔːsəz/
plural of “moss” — tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
and nothing more
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
pasturenounUS /ˈpæstʃər/
a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
questioningadjectiveUS /ˈkwestʃənɪŋ/
perplexed (as if being expected to know something that you do not know)
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
restlesslyadverbUS /ˈrestləsli/
in a restless manner
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
ROXY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROXY GRIEVER'S GUEST.
the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
soddenadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːdən/
wet through and through; thoroughly wet
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
a person, without saying who
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
the season of growth
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
swift-passing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
in or at the place that
From this reading Where she had wandered, questioning, debating, agonizing, since she dismissed Flenton Hands at the corner of old Kimbro's lean home pasture, only Callista knew.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading The Judas tree down by the spring branch might have told a tale of clutching fingers that reached up to its low boughs, while somebody stood shaking and listening to the sound of the creek that came down the gorge past that home Callista was leaving.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading The mosses between there and the big road could have whispered of swift-passing feet that went restlessly as though driven to and fro over their sodden carpet for hours.
belonging to which person
From this reading IT was a strange day whose gray dawn brought Callista to her father-in-law's door.
