adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
beastnounUS /biːst/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
boundadjectiveUS /baʊnd/
confined by bonds
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
carryingverbUS /ˈkæriɪŋ/
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
caughtverbUS /kɑːt/
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
chainnounUS /tʃeɪn/
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
characteristicnounUS /ˌkerəktərˈɪstɪk/
a prominent attribute or aspect of something
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
CitynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
darknounUS /dɑːrk/
absence of light or illumination
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
decknounUS /dek/
any of various platforms built into a vessel
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
drivenadjectiveUS /ˈdrɪvən/
compelled forcibly by an outside agency
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
droopingadjectiveUS /ˈdruːpɪŋ/
weak from exhaustion
From this reading And there Iss found him, with drooping head and white with foam.
dutynounUS /ˈduːti/
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
failverbUS /feɪl/
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
faithfuladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪθfəl/
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
faradverbUS /fɑːr/
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading And there Iss found him, with drooping head and white with foam.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading And there Iss found him, with drooping head and white with foam.
GrahamnounUS /ˈɡreɪəm/
United States evangelical preacher famous as a mass evangelist (born in 1918)
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
headnounUS /hed/
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading And there Iss found him, with drooping head and white with foam.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
HISdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
horsenounUS /hɔːrs/
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
inexorableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈneksərəbəl/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
Iss
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
JamesnounUS /dʒeɪmz/
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
leisurelyadverbUS /ˈliːzərli/
in an unhurried way or at one's convenience
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
lookedverbUS /lʊkt/
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
Mayburn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
militaryadjectiveUS /ˈmɪləteri/
of or relating to the study of the principles of warfare
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
moonlightnounUS /ˈmuːnlaɪt/
the light of the Moon
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
NeveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
pacedverbUS /peɪst/
past form of “pace” — walk with slow or fast paces
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
pausedverbUS /pɔːzd/
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
PointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
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 Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
railroadsnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊdz/
plural of “railroad” — line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
RIVALSnounUS /ˈraɪvəlz/
plural of “rival” — the contestant you hope to defeat
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
servantnounUS /ˈsɜːrvənt/
a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
severedadjectiveUS /ˈsevərd/
detached by cutting
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
SOMBREadjective
lacking brightness or color; dull
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
soonadverbUS /suːn/
in the near future
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
speedverbUS /spiːd/
move hurridly
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
stationaryadjectiveUS /ˈsteɪʃəneri/
standing still
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
steam-engine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
steamernounUS /ˈstiːmər/
a clam that is usually steamed in the shell
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
terminusnounUS /ˈtɜːrmɪnəs/
a place where something ends or is complete
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading And there Iss found him, with drooping head and white with foam.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
trainverbUS /treɪn/
create by training and teaching
From this reading The steam-engine was driven to City Point with the reckless speed characteristic of military railroads; but to Graham the train seemed to crawl.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
WashingtonnounUS /ˈwɑːʃɪŋtən/
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He caught a steamer bound for Washington, and paced the deck, while in the moonlight the dark shores of the James looked stationary.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading And there Iss found him, with drooping head and white with foam.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading And there Iss found him, with drooping head and white with foam.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Iss, his servant, soon fell so far behind that Graham paused and told him to come on more leisurely, that Mayburn would be at the terminus of the military railroad.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading HIS SOMBRE RIVALS Never had his noble horse Mayburn seemed to fail him until the hour that severed the military chain which had so long bound him to inexorable duty, and yet the faithful beast was carrying him like the wind.
