used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
declared publicly; made widely known
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
react verbally
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Where are we?" asked sleepy voices.
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Where are we?" asked sleepy voices.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
berthsnounUS /bɜːrθs/
plural of “berth” — a job in an organization
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
brakesnounUS /breɪks/
a braking device consisting of a combination of interacting parts that work to slow a motor vehicle
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
don't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
footingsnounUS /ˈfʊtɪŋz/
plural of “footing” — status with respect to the relations between people or groups
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
expect, believe, or suppose
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
haltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
indicatingverbUS /ˈɪndəkeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
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 Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
the force of workers available
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
not any; not one
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
occupantnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənt/
someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
RECOGNITIONnounUS /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃən/
the state or quality of being recognized or acknowledged
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
screechingnounUS /ˈskriːtʃɪŋ/
a high-pitched noise resembling a human cry
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
shrilladjectiveUS /ʃrɪl/
having or emitting a high-pitched and sharp tone or tones
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
sleepyadjectiveUS /ˈsliːpi/
ready to fall asleep
From this reading "Where are we?" asked sleepy voices.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
in or at that place or location
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
trainsnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading Then the long, heavy trains came to a halt.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Where are we?" asked sleepy voices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Where are we?" asked sleepy voices.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I guess we've arrived," came an answer from no one in particular.
(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 "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
wheelsnounUS /wiːlz/
plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
in or at the place that
From this reading "Where are we?" asked sleepy voices.
whistlesnounUS /ˈwɪsəlz/
plural of “whistle” — the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture
From this reading RECOGNITION There were a creaking of wheels, a shrill screeching of brakes, footings of whistles, and shouts of men.
but in spite of that
From this reading "Well, we don't have to get up yet," was announced from one of the berths, where the sound of a shade being pulled up could be heard, indicating that the occupant of the bed had looked out to see how near daylight it was.
