adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
bednounUS /bed/
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
bigadjectiveUS /bɪɡ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
brakie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
carsnounUS /kɑːrz/
plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars.
conversationnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃən/
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe.
dancedverbUS /dænst/
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
distinctlyadverbUS /dɪˈstɪŋktli/
clear to the mind; with distinct mental discernment
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
emptyverbUS /ˈempti/
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
endnounUS /end/
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars.
enginenounUS /ˈendʒən/
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
fiftynounUS /ˈfɪfti/
the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
fivenounUS /faɪv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
forwardadverbUS /ˈfɔːrwərd/
at or to or toward the front
From this reading They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
freight-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
freights
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
gradenounUS /ɡreɪd/
a body of students who are taught together
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
gruntingverbUS /ˈɡrʌntɪŋ/
-ing form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
JerichonounUS /ˈdʒerɪkoʊ/
a village in Palestine near the north end of the Dead Sea; in the Old Testament it was the first place taken by the Israelites under Joshua as they entered the Promised Land
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe.
justadverbUS /dʒʌst/
and nothing more
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
laboringadjectiveUS /ˈleɪbərɪŋ/
doing arduous or unpleasant work
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
LeftynounUS /ˈlefti/
a person who uses the left hand with greater skill than the right
From this reading The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
lostadjectiveUS /lɔːst/
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
nasaladjectiveUS /ˈneɪzəl/
of or in or relating to the nose
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
noisenounUS /nɔɪz/
sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound)
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
ordinarynounUS /ˈɔːrdəneri/
a judge of a probate court
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
overtonenounUS /ˈoʊvərtoʊn/
(usually plural) an ulterior implicit meaning or quality
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
PassverbUS /pæs/
go across or through
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
pitchedadjectiveUS /pɪtʃt/
(of sound) set to a certain pitch or key; usually used as a combining form
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
racketnounUS /ˈrækɪt/
a loud and disturbing noise
From this reading The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe.
rattledadjectiveUS /ˈrætəld/
thrown into a state of agitated confusion; (“rattled” is an informal term)
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
roadnounUS /roʊd/
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
rolledadjectiveUS /roʊld/
especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
roughadjectiveUS /rʌf/
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The brakie could talk above the racket, and so, of course, could Lefty Joe.
stiffadjectiveUS /stɪf/
not moving or operating freely
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
talkverbUS /tɔːk/
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
teethnounUS /tiːθ/
the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They sat about in the center of the train, on the forward end of one of the cars.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
thunderverbUS /ˈθʌndər/
move fast, noisily, and heavily
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
tonenounUS /toʊn/
the quality of a person's voice
From this reading This freight-car talk is pitched just above the ordinary tone--it is an overtone of conversation, one might say--and it is distinctly nasal.
trainverbUS /treɪn/
create by training and teaching
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The fifty empty freights danced and rolled and rattled on the rough road bed and filled Jericho Pass with thunder; the big engine was laboring and grunting at the grade, but five cars back the noise of the locomotive was lost.
YetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet there is a way to talk above the noise of a freight train just as there is a way to whistle into the teeth of a stiff wind.
