used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
having companions or an escort
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
acheverbUS /eɪk/
feel physical pain
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
badlandsnounUS /ˈbædlændz/
deeply eroded barren land
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
basinnounUS /ˈbeɪsən/
a bowl-shaped vessel; usually used for holding food or liquids
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
Breed'snounUS /briːdz/
possessive form of “breed” — a special variety of domesticated animals within a species
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
rid of obstructions
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
cockingverbUS /ˈkɑːkɪŋ/
-ing form of “cock” — tilt or slant to one side
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
coulee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
crescent-shapedadjective
resembling the new moon in shape
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
deepenedverbUS /ˈdiːpənd/
past form of “deepen” — make more intense, stronger, or more marked
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
plural of “dog” — a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
encircledadjectiveUS /ɪnˈsɜːrkəld/
confined on all sides
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
evadedverbUS /ɪˈveɪdɪd/
past form of “evade” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
relatively long in duration; tediously protracted
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
funnel-shapedadjective
shaped in the form of a funnel
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
haltsnounUS /hɔːlts/
plural of “halt” — the state of inactivity following an interruption
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
lonelinessnounUS /ˈloʊnlinəs/
the state of being alone in solitary isolation
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
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 She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
something that is lost
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
the officer below the master on a commercial ship
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
oppressiveadjectiveUS /əˈpresɪv/
weighing heavily on the senses or spirit
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
partiallyadverbUS /ˈpɑːrʃəli/
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
with speed
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
recoverynounUS /rɪˈkʌvri/
return to an original state
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
move upward
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
Shady's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
sidewiseadverbUS /ˈsaɪdwaɪz/
toward one side
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
slopedadjective
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading She came out into a funnel-shaped basin that sloped down from the first sharp rise of the spur.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
tiltingverbUS /ˈtɪltɪŋ/
-ing form of “tilt” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
not clearly expressed or understood
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
weighedverbUS /weɪd/
past form of “weigh” — have a certain weight
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
at the time that
From this reading She started up through the long crescent-shaped neck of badlands that partially encircled Collins' cabin and extended clear to the foot of the spur, knowing that this was Breed's favorite route when making for the hills.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The recovery of her breath was accompanied by a vague sense of loss which rapidly deepened into an ache of loneliness so oppressive that her whole spirit was weighed down by it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading She moved slowly and with many halts, cocking her head sidewise and tilting her ears for some sound of her mate.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading Shady's first impression after taking the wrong turn in the coulee was one of vast relief at having evaded the dogs.
