used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All of this building might go forward successfully.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading All of this building might go forward successfully.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
CalifornianounUS /ˌkæləˈfɔːrnjə/
a state in the western United States on the Pacific; the 3rd largest state; known for earthquakes
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
CentraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
connectverbUS /kəˈnekt/
connect, fasten, or put together two or more pieces
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
contentionnounUS /kənˈtenʃən/
a point asserted as part of an argument
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
debatedverbUS /dəˈbeɪtɪd/
past form of “debate” — argue with one another
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
DouglasnounUS /ˈdʌɡləs/
United States politician who proposed that individual territories be allowed to decide whether they would have slavery; he engaged in a famous series of debates with Abraham Lincoln (1813-1861)
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
divisible by two
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading All of this building might go forward successfully.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading All of this building might go forward successfully.
GulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
IllinoisnounUS /ˌɪləˈnɔɪ/
a midwestern state in north-central United States
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
imprisonedadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈprɪzənd/
being in captivity
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
not compact or dense in structure or arrangement
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
MexiconounUS /ˈmeksəkoʊ/
a republic in southern North America; became independent from Spain in 1810
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
Identical; not different.
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
slaverynounUS /ˈsleɪvəri/
the state of being under the control of another person
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
St
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
successfullyadverbUS /səkˈsesfəli/
with success; in a successful manner
From this reading All of this building might go forward successfully.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading All of this building might go forward successfully.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
transcontinentaladjectiveUS /ˌtrænzkɑːntɪˈnentəl/
spanning or crossing or on the farther side of a continent
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
Webster'snounUS /ˈwebstərz/
possessive form of “webster” — English playwright (1580-1625)
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Even railroad building was a bone of contention, for as to a line to California it had been debated whether it should start from Chicago or from St. Louis.
plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
in the company of; together with
From this reading We might have a transcontinental railroad, and Douglas' Illinois Central might connect Chicago with the Gulf of Mexico.
the words that are spoken
From this reading I felt now the truth of Webster's picturesque words that "the imprisoned winds were let loose."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But at the same time the slavery question would not down.
