used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
appallingnounUS /əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
an experience that appalls
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
controlledadjectiveUS /kənˈtroʊld/
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
frightnounUS /fraɪt/
an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
headlightnounUS /ˈhedlaɪt/
a powerful light with reflector; attached to the front of an automobile or locomotive
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
Hervey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
JAWSnounUS /dʒɔːz/
plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
hear with intention
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
in motion
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
northboundadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrθbaʊnd/
moving toward the north
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
and nothing more
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
panicnounUS /ˈpænɪk/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
go across or through
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
having a supporting base
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
create by training and teaching
From this reading The switch had been standing open so that the northbound train might pass.
Wainboro
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
look attentively
From this reading He could only listen in panic fright and watch for the appalling sight of a headlight.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE JAWS OF DEATH What had happened was this.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For a few moments, Hervey was so frantic with terror that he was controlled more by instinct than thought.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Then it had been closed so that a Wainboro train moving south would be carried onto the branch.
