used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
(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 At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Johnny, with an eye out for trouble, was everywhere.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
antsnounUS /ænts/
plural of “ant” — social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
bananasnounUS /bəˈnænəz/
plural of “banana” — any of several tropical and subtropical treelike herbs of the genus Musa having a terminal crown of large entire leaves and usually bearing hanging clusters of elongated fruits
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
barefootedadjective
without shoes
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
Caribs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
docknounUS /dɑːk/
an enclosure in a court of law where the defendant sits during the trial
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
to or in any or all places
From this reading Johnny, with an eye out for trouble, was everywhere.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
the organ of sight
From this reading Johnny, with an eye out for trouble, was everywhere.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Johnny, with an eye out for trouble, was everywhere.
forenoonnoun
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
gaugeverbUS /ɡeɪdʒ/
judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
groaningverbUS /ˈɡroʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “groan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
imitationnounUS /ˌɪməˈteɪʃən/
the doctrine that representations of nature or human behavior should be accurate imitations
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
immediately past
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
loadingnounUS /ˈloʊdɪŋ/
weight to be borne or conveyed
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
loadsnounUS /loʊdz/
a large number or amount
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Johnny, with an eye out for trouble, was everywhere.
go across or through
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
perspiringverbUS /pərˈspaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “perspire” — excrete perspiration through the pores in the skin
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
PortenounUS /pɔːrt/
the Ottoman court in Constantinople
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
just preceding something else in time or order
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
progressingverbUS /prəˈɡresɪŋ/
-ing form of “progress” — develop in a positive way
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
puffingnounUS /ˈpʌfɪŋ/
blowing tobacco smoke out into the air
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
rattlingnounUS /ˈrætlɪŋ/
a rapid series of short loud sounds (as might be heard with a stethoscope in some types of respiratory disorders)
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
transport commercially
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
a lightweight cord
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
a source of difficulty
From this reading Johnny, with an eye out for trouble, was everywhere.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading There, in exact imitation of the ants that had entertained Johnny on the previous day, the barefooted, perspiring Caribs seized upon the precious fruit, to pass it from hand to hand and store it carefully away in the hold of the ship.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With its cars groaning under the great loads of green which it brought, it came to a halt on the dock.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At regular intervals all that long forenoon and well into the day, the little engine with its string of cars came puffing and rattling down the narrow gauge track.
Zelaya
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the dock at Porte Zelaya, the task of loading bananas was at last progressing.
