used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Another towered against the western horizon.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another towered against the western horizon.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
blottedverbUS /ˈblɑːtəd/
inflected form of “blot” — dry (ink) with blotting paper
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
bunchesnounUS /ˈbʌntʃəz/
plural of “bunch” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
CactusnounUS /ˈkæktəs/
any succulent plant of the family Cactaceae native chiefly to arid regions of the New World and usually having spines
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
clumpsnounUS /klʌmps/
plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
darkeningadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːrkənɪŋ/
becoming dark or darker as from waning light or clouding over
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
downwardadjectiveUS /ˈdaʊnwərd/
extending or moving from a higher to a lower place
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
dusknounUS /dʌsk/
the time of day immediately following sunset
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
faintlyadverbUS /ˈfeɪntli/
to a faint degree or weakly perceived
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
gleamverbUS /ɡliːm/
be shiny, as if wet
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
gleamingnounUS /ˈɡliːmɪŋ/
a flash of light (especially reflected light)
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
gloomed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
gray-whiteadjective
of white tinged with grey
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
greasewoodnounUS /ˈɡriːswʊd/
low hardy much-branched spiny shrub common in alkaline soils of western America
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Another towered against the western horizon.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
mesquitenounUS /ˈmeskiːt/
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 Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
mufflingverbUS /ˈmʌflɪŋ/
-ing form of “muffle” — suppress in order to conceal or hide
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
rimming
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
established or decided beyond dispute or doubt
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
smotheredadjectiveUS /ˈsmʌðərd/
held in check with difficulty
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
yielding readily to pressure or weight
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
spotsnounUS /spɑːts/
spots before the eyes caused by opaque cell fragments in the vitreous humor and lens
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Away toward the east a range of mountains gloomed faintly, rimming the distance.
toweredverbUS /ˈtaʊərd/
past form of “tower” — appear very large or occupy a commanding position
From this reading Another towered against the western horizon.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In and out among these dark spots a man was slowly riding.
weirdadjectiveUS /wɪrd/
suggesting the operation of supernatural influences
From this reading The soft, muffling dusk settled slowly downward from the darkening blue sky and little by little smothered the weird gleam that rose from the gray-white plain.
relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts
From this reading Another towered against the western horizon.
whitely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Cactus clumps and bunches of mesquite and greasewood blotted the whitely gleaming earth.
