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Ranching for Sylvia
Ranching for Sylvia

Chapter XXVI

Cover illustration for Ranching for Sylvia
Context Illustration Reading 1/42 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.
Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.
Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.
The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.
Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Ranching for Sylvia

Chapter XXVI

Reading 1/42 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.
Line 2
Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.
Line 3
Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.
Line 4
The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.
Line 5
Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.”

Across preposition US /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading “Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.”

Along preposition US /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.”

Been auxiliary verb US /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.”

Beyond preposition US /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading “Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.”

Bluff adjective US /blʌf/

direct and plain-spoken in manner, sometimes seeming rough

From this reading “Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.”

Drew noun US /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.”

Stood noun US /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.”

Though conjunction US /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.”

Thunder noun US /ˈthunder/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.”

All words in this reading · 84

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

barley

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

beyondprepositionUS /bɪˈɑːnd/

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

blue

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

bluffadjectiveUS /blʌf/

direct and plain-spoken in manner, sometimes seeming rough

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

bristling

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

broke

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

brown-headed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

cast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

clouds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

Crimson

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

Day

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

delicate

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

drenching

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

drewnounUS /drew/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

Earlier

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

ears

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

farm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

flax

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

flecked

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

FLETT

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

flitting

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

flowers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

FROMprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

glowed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

grain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

grass

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

harm

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

Marston

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

moisture

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

nearly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

nodeterminerUS /noʊ/

not any; not one

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

off

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

onprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

plain

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

prairie

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

red

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

sand

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

saskatoons

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

season

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

shadows

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

shed

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

sheets

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

showers

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

SIGN

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

spread

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

stalks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

stoodnounUS /stood/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

strides

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

strong

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

Summer

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

sun-scorched

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

swift

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.

swift-moving

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

thundernounUS /ˈthunder/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

timothy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

trails

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

verge

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Earlier in the season there had been drenching thunder showers, and beyond the grain the flax spread in sheets of delicate blue that broke off on the verge of the brown-headed timothy.

waist-high

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

waved

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

wheat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Day by day swift-moving clouds cast flitting shadows across the sun-scorched plain, but though they shed no moisture the wheat stood nearly waist-high upon the Marston farm.

whirled

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The sand that whirled about it did the strong stalks no harm.

wild

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Crimson flowers flecked the prairie grass, the wild barley waved its bristling ears along the trails, saskatoons glowed red in the shadows of each bluff.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A SIGN FROM FLETT Summer drew on with swift strides.