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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
African
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From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
Australian
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From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
barren
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From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
BOUNDARY-RIDER
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From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
bushes
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From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
clay-pans
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From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
coloursnounUS /ˈcolours/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
cover
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
covering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
dark-blue
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From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
desert
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
desirable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
fairly
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From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
glaring
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From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
GreatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
higher
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
impression
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
instead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
knee
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
low
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
man
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
man's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
matter
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From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
merit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
mirage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
mix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
Omit
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
PADDOCK
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From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
pale-green
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
patches
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
Picture
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
piece
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
places
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
plenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
popular
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
quitenounUS /quite/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
represent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
Sahara
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
saliferous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sand-hills
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
scantyadjectiveUS /ˈskænti/
small or barely sufficient in amount
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
seen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sheep-country
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
simple
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
simplicity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
sky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
smooth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sombre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
stillnounUS /still/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
thickest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
thirsty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This, too, is a simple matter.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
vertical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading You have only to cover the desert with pale-green saliferous bushes, no higher than a man's knee; quite a scanty covering will do, so that in the thickest places plenty of sand may still be seen; and there should be barren patches to represent the low sand-hills and the smooth clay-pans.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Omit the mirage and the thirsty man; but, instead, mix sombre colours and work up the African desert into a fairly desirable piece of Australian sheep-country.
YELKIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BOUNDARY-RIDER OF THE YELKIN PADDOCK Picture the Great Sahara.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading The popular impression will do: it has the merit of simplicity: glaring desert, dark-blue sky, vertical sun, and there you are.
