used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
alkalinounUS /ˈælkəlaɪ/
any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
blazenounUS /bleɪz/
a strong flame that burns brightly
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading No breath of wind stirred it.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
columnnounUS /ˈkɑːləm/
a line of units following one after another
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
conflagrationnounUS /ˌkɑːnfləˈɡreɪʃən/
a very intense and uncontrolled fire
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
CreeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
placed crosswise
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
DICKSIE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
start firing a weapon
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
destroyed or killed
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No breath of wind stirred it.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
staying power
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
McCloud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
not in physical motion
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
not any; not one
From this reading No breath of wind stirred it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
RecliningnounUS /rɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
ReednounUS /riːd/
tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
reenforcements
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
no longer active in your work or profession
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
cut with a saw
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
SmokyadjectiveUS /ˈsmoʊki/
marked by or emitting or filled with smoke
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
distribute or disperse widely
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
stillnessnounUS /ˈstɪlnəs/
(poetic) tranquil silence
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading No breath of wind stirred it.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
trackmen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
umbrellanounUS /əmˈbrelə/
a lightweight handheld collapsible canopy
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading No breath of wind stirred it.
wirenounUS /ˈwaɪər/
ligament made of metal and used to fasten things or make cages or fences etc
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the stillness of a signal column it rose, thin and black, and high in the air spread motionless, like a huge umbrella, above Smoky Creek.
wreck-fire
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
wreckers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DICKSIE The wreckers, drifting in the blaze of the sun across the broad alkali valley, saw the smoke of the wreck-fire behind them.
writhingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪðɪŋ/
moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion
From this reading Reclining against a rock with his legs crossed, he had clasped his hands behind his head and sat looking at the iron writhing in the dying heat of the fire.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Reed Young had gone with an engine to wire reenforcements, and McCloud, active among the trackmen until the conflagration spent itself, had retired to the shade of the hill.
