adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
aheadadverbUS /əˈhed/
at or in the front
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
BritishnounUS /ˈbrɪtɪʃ/
the people of Great Britain
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
burnverbUS /bɜːrn/
To consume or be consumed by fire.
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
cha-sukeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
Chinamannoun
(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
cleveradjectiveUS /ˈklevər/
showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
coastnounUS /koʊst/
the shore of a sea or ocean
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
collectingnounUS /kəˈlektɪŋ/
the act of gathering something together
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
ColumbianounUS /kəˈlʌmbiə/
a North American river; rises in southwestern Canada and flows southward across Washington to form the border between Washington and Oregon before emptying into the Pacific; known for its salmon runs in the spring
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
DanenounUS /deɪn/
a native or inhabitant of Denmark
From this reading With Shan Tung went Tao, a Great Dane.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
decadesnounUS /deˈkeɪdz/
plural of “decade” — a period of 10 years
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
devilnounUS /ˈdevəl/
(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
explosionnounUS /ɪkˈsploʊʒən/
a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
far-seeing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
fireverbUS /ˈfaɪər/
start firing a weapon
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
foreseeverbUS /fɔːrˈsiː/
realize beforehand
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
fortyadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrti/
being ten more than thirty
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
FrazernounUS /ˈfreɪzər/
English social anthropologist noted for studies of primitive religion and magic (1854-1941)
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
fuseverbUS /fjuːz/
mix together different elements
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
futureadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtʃər/
yet to be or coming
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
gold-hunting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
GreatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading With Shan Tung went Tao, a Great Dane.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
headwatersnounUS /ˈhedwɔːtərz/
plural of “headwater” — the source of a river
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
long-cued
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
lookverbUS /lʊk/
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
Meccas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
northnounUS /nɔːrθ/
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
PeacenounUS /piːs/
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
pickedverbUS /pɪkt/
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
populationnounUS /ˌpɑːpjəˈleɪʃən/
the people who inhabit a territory or state
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
realitynounUS /ˌriːˈælətiː/
all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
RivernounUS /ˈrɪvər/
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
setverbUS /set/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
Shanmodal verbUS /ʃæn/
the form of “shall” used in the contraction “shan’t”
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
somewhereadverbUS /ˈsʌmwer/
in or at or to some place
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
startedverbUS /ˈstɑːrtɪd/
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
TaonounUS /taʊ/
an adherent of any branch of Taoism
From this reading With Shan Tung went Tao, a Great Dane.
TelegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
touchingadjectiveUS /ˈtʌtʃɪŋ/
arousing affect
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
tragedynounUS /ˈtrædʒədi/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
TrailnounUS /treɪl/
a track or mark left by something that has passed
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading The Chinaman had picked him up somewhere on the coast and had trained him as one trains a horse.
TungnounUS /tʌŋ/
Chinese tree bearing seeds that yield tung oil
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
VancouvernounUS /vænˈkuːvər/
English navigator remembered for his exploration of the Pacific coast of North America (1757-1798)
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a clever man, was Shan Tung, a cha-sukeed, a very devil in the collecting of gold, and far-seeing.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading With Shan Tung went Tao, a Great Dane.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Shan Tung, the long-cued Chinaman from Vancouver, started up the Frazer River in the old days when the Telegraph Trail and the headwaters of the Peace were the Meccas of half the gold-hunting population of British Columbia, he did not foresee tragedy ahead of him.
winternounUS /ˈwɪntər/
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With Shan Tung went Tao, a Great Dane.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading But he could not look forty years into the future, and when Shan Tung set off into the north, that winter, he was in reality touching fire to the end of a fuse that was to burn through four decades before the explosion came.
