used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading It was a field apart.
avoidedverbUS /əˈvɔɪdɪd/
past form of “avoid” — stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something
From this reading This was a land of exile, shunned and avoided by the surrounding territory.
formed or made thin by hammering
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
brazenadjectiveUS /ˈbreɪzən/
unrestrained by convention or propriety
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
terminate
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
CanyonnounUS /ˈkænjən/
a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
CLEWnoun
a ball of yarn or cord or thread
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
clumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
desolateadjectiveUS /ˈdesələt/
providing no shelter or sustenance
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
past form of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
exileverbUS /ˈeɡzaɪl/
expel from a country
From this reading This was a land of exile, shunned and avoided by the surrounding territory.
a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed
From this reading It was a field apart.
footingsnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋz/
plural of “footing” — status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
soft and mild; not harsh or stern or severe
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
shoot down, of birds
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
half-heartedlyadverb
without enthusiasm; in a half-hearted manner
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
an opening into or through something
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a field apart.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
and nothing more
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
leaflessadjectiveUS /ˈliːfləs/
having no leaves
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
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 Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
mesquitnoun
any of several small spiny trees or shrubs of the genus Prosopis having small flowers in axillary cylindrical spikes followed by large pods rich in sugar
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
notedadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊtəd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
and nothing more
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
pitifullyadverbUS /ˈpɪtɪfəli/
to a pitiful degree
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
pony's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
bring forth or yield
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
protectiveadjectiveUS /prəˈtektɪv/
intended or adapted to afford protection of some kind
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
regionnounUS /ˈriːdʒən/
the extended spatial location of something
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
ridersnounUS /ˈraɪdərz/
plural of “rider” — a traveler who actively rides an animal (as a horse or camel)
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
shunnedverbUS /ʃʌnd/
inflected form of “shun” — avoid and stay away from deliberately; stay clear of
From this reading This was a land of exile, shunned and avoided by the surrounding territory.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
an elevated geological formation
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
stubbyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbi/
short and blunt
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
submissionnounUS /səbˈmɪʃən/
something (manuscripts or architectural plans and models or estimates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition)
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
sunsnounUS /sʌnz/
plural of “sun” — the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading This was a land of exile, shunned and avoided by the surrounding territory.
SwingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
territorynounUS /ˈterɪtɔːri/
a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading This was a land of exile, shunned and avoided by the surrounding territory.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
tractnounUS /trækt/
an extended area of land
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
treacherousadjectiveUS /ˈtretʃərəs/
dangerously unstable and unpredictable
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED CLEW The trail to Thunder Canyon lay through a region noted for its treacherous footings and short, stubby clumps of mesquit grass that might conceal a hole just deep enough to break a pony’s leg.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
vegetationnounUS /ˌvedʒəˈteɪʃən/
all the plant life in a particular region or period
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
venturingverbUS /ˈventʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers
From this reading Here the land lay pitifully open to the brazen sky, long since beaten into submission and now venturing only half-heartedly to produce any protective vegetation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a land of exile, shunned and avoided by the surrounding territory.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Swinging from the road, the riders entered this desolate tract and proceeded up a gentle slope, dotted here and there with trees burned almost leafless by summer suns.
