used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
acacianounUS /əˈkeɪʃə/
any of various spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Acacia
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
atopadverbUS /əˈtɑːp/
on, to, or at the top
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
CiviladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
clockworknounUS /ˈklɑːkwɜːrk/
any mechanism of geared wheels that is driven by a coiled spring; resembles the works of a mechanical clock
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
coatedadjectiveUS /ˈkoʊtəd/
having a coating; covered with an outer layer or film; often used in combination
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
cobsnounUS /kɑːbz/
plural of “cob” — nut of any of several trees of the genus Corylus
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
daybreaknounUS /ˈdeɪbreɪk/
the first light of day
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
dog-weary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
remove the dust from
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
gray-brownadjective
of brown tinged with grey
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
Guardia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
hairyadjectiveUS /ˈheri/
having or covered with hair
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
heavy-headed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
hummocknoun
a small natural hill
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
hunchedadjectiveUS /hʌntʃt/
having the back and shoulders rounded; not erect
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
ilexnoun
a large genus of dicotyledonous trees and shrubs of the family Aquifoliaceae that have small flowers and berries (including hollies)
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
immensitynoun
unusual largeness in size or extent or number
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
machinesnounUS /məˈʃiːnz/
plural of “machine” — any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
the force of workers available
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
nakedadjectiveUS /ˈneɪkəd/
completely unclothed
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
persistentlyadverbUS /pərˈsɪstəntli/
in a persistent manner
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
poniesnounUS /ˈpoʊniz/
plural of “pony” — a range horse of the western United States
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
powdernounUS /ˈpaʊdər/
a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
reinverbUS /reɪn/
control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
put a saddle on
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
southwardadverbUS /ˈsaʊθwərd/
toward the south
From this reading They had been in the saddle since daybreak, persistently pushing southward.
SpaniardsnounUS /ˈspænjərdz/
plural of “spaniard” — a native or inhabitant of Spain
From this reading The two were Spaniards.
steady-paced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The two were Spaniards.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
thornyadjectiveUS /ˈθɔːrni/
bristling with perplexities
From this reading They drew rein atop a naked hummock in the immensity of sand and ilex and thorny acacia.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The two were Spaniards.
always the same; showing a single form or character in all occurrences
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The two were Spaniards.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The cobs were dog-weary but as steady-paced as machines of clockwork; the men were hunched of shoulder, heavy-headed, their faces coated with a gray-brown powder of dust.
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading They wore the uniform of the Guardia Civil, and they rode hairy, vigorous little police ponies.
