used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading To them the affair was novel enough to be interesting.
anew
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
at or in the front
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
(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 It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To them the affair was novel enough to be interesting.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
disablednounUS /dɪˈseɪbəld/
people collectively who are crippled or otherwise physically handicapped
From this reading Finally they reached and passed the disabled freight train.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading To them the affair was novel enough to be interesting.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading Finally they reached and passed the disabled freight train.
flagman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
freightnounUS /freɪt/
goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading Finally they reached and passed the disabled freight train.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
a man of refinement
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
a young female
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
arousing or holding the attention
From this reading To them the affair was novel enough to be interesting.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
and nothing more
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
MEETSnounUS /miːts/
plural of “meet” — a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story
From this reading To them the affair was novel enough to be interesting.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
past form of “pass” — go across or through
From this reading Finally they reached and passed the disabled freight train.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
precedeverbUS /prɪˈsiːd/
be earlier in time; go back further
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
keep from happening or arising; make impossible
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
continue talking
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
puffedadjectiveUS /pʌft/
gathered for protruding fullness
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Finally they reached and passed the disabled freight train.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
except for; apart from
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
in the near future
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading To them the affair was novel enough to be interesting.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Finally they reached and passed the disabled freight train.
tiresomeadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərsəm/
so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
create by training and teaching
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
travelingnounUS /ˈtrævəlɪŋ/
the act of going from one place to another
From this reading It was tiresome traveling, and nearly every one grumbled--that is, all save the boys.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
in or at the place that
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
which person or people
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As they puffed past it a girl, who had come in from some car ahead with an elderly gentleman, took a seat with him just across from where Jack sat.
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading JACK MEETS A GIRL The train soon began to move forward again, but it had to proceed slowly, as it was on the wrong track, and a flagman had to precede it to prevent a collision.
