used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
arcnounUS /ɑːrk/
electrical conduction through a gas in an applied electric field
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
canalsnounUS /kəˈnælz/
plural of “canal” — (astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
chippedverbUS /tʃɪpt/
inflected form of “chip” — break off (a piece from a whole)
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
CIVILIZEDadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading WE’RE CIVILIZED!
claynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
completingadjectiveUS /kəmˈpliːtɪŋ/
acting as or providing a complement (something that completes the whole)
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
equatornounUS /ɪˈkweɪtər/
an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
evaporationnounUS /ɪˌvæpərˈeɪʃən/
the process of becoming a vapor
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
every person
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
excavationsnounUS /ˌekskəˈveɪʃənz/
plural of “excavation” — the act of digging
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
fattestadjectiveUS /ˈfætəst/
superlative of “fat” — having an (over)abundance of flesh
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
femalesnounUS /ˈfiːmeɪlz/
plural of “female” — an animal that produces gametes (ova) that can be fertilized by male gametes
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
hungernounUS /ˈhʌŋɡər/
a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
lichennounUS /ˈlaɪkən/
any of several eruptive skin diseases characterized by hard thick lesions grouped together and resembling lichens growing on rocks
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
something that is lost
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
malesnounUS /meɪlz/
plural of “male” — an animal that produces gametes (spermatozoa) that can fertilize female gametes
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
MarsnounUS /mɑːrz/
a small reddish planet that is the 4th from the sun and is periodically visible to the naked eye; minerals rich in iron cover its surface and are responsible for its characteristic color
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
moisturenounUS /ˈmɔɪstʃər/
wetness caused by water
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
mutatedverbUS /ˈmjuːteɪtɪd/
past form of “mutate” — undergo mutation
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
as might be expected
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
not one, and not any
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
pickingnounUS /ˈpɪkɪŋ/
the quantity of a crop that is harvested
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
plantsnounUS /plænts/
plural of “plant” — buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
any competition
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
ripest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
rock-hard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
seepverbUS /siːp/
pass gradually or leak through or as if through small openings
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
standardsnounUS /ˈstændərdz/
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
of high or superior quality or performance
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The males worked at the surface of the canals, or in open excavations.
symbiosisnounUS /ˌsɪmbaɪˈoʊsəs/
the relation between two different species of organisms that are interdependent; each gains benefits from the other
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
thirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
unimpededadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪmˈpiːdɪd/
not slowed or prevented
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
WE'RE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WE’RE CIVILIZED!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
belonging to which person
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
be the winner in a contest or competition; be victorious
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Their wide, mutated hands chipped into the rock-hard clay, opening a channel which was to be filled with sand and then sealed off with clay on all sides and surface.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading That water might seep through the sand without evaporation, without loss, from the poles to the equator of Mars—seep unimpeded, so that moisture might reach the lichen plants of everyone, so that none might thirst or hunger.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading _Naturally, the superior race should win ... but superior by which standards ... and whose?_ The females and children worked among the lichen growth, picking off the fattest, ripest leaves for their food and moisture, completing their arc of the circle of symbiosis.
