234
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
agentnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənt/
an active and efficient cause; capable of producing a certain effect
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
a youthful male person
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading When he was eighteen his opportunity came.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
CourteousadjectiveUS /ˈkɜːrtiəs/
exhibiting courtesy and politeness
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
eighteenadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːn/
being one more than seventeen
From this reading When he was eighteen his opportunity came.
energeticadjectiveUS /ˌenərˈdʒetɪk/
possessing or exerting or displaying energy
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
fleanounUS /fliː/
any wingless bloodsucking parasitic insect noted for ability to leap
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When he was eighteen his opportunity came.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
helpernounUS /ˈhelpər/
a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
localadjectiveUS /ˈloʊkəl/
relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
a woman of refinement
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
NebraskanounUS /nəˈbræskə/
a midwestern state on the Great Plains
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
on one occasion
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading When he was eighteen his opportunity came.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Years passed.
persistingadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstɪŋ/
relentless and indefatigable in pursuit or as if in pursuit
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
railroadingnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊdɪŋ/
the activity of designing and constructing and operating railroads
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
RetortnounUS /ˈriːtɔːrt/
a quick reply to a question or remark (especially a witty or critical one)
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “Madam, there has been a mistake—this is not my flea!”
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He got a job as helper to the local station agent at forty dollars a month.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
showing sorrow
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
at the time that
From this reading When he was eighteen his opportunity came.
which person or people
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
WillownounUS /ˈwɪloʊ/
any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
a late time of life
From this reading Years passed.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading § 234 The Retort Courteous There was once a boy who grew up in the village of Weeping Willow, Nebraska, with the persisting idea in his head that railroading offered the best career for an ambitious and energetic youth.
