used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It couldn't have been more than a moment's shock of pain.
(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 But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading SHARP AND SUDDEN.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It couldn't have been more than a moment's shock of pain.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
brakesnounUS /breɪks/
a braking device consisting of a combination of interacting parts that work to slow a motor vehicle
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
buffernounUS /ˈbʌfər/
(chemistry) an ionic compound that resists changes in its pH
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It couldn't have been more than a moment's shock of pain.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It couldn't have been more than a moment's shock of pain.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
for more time
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
moment'snounUS /ˈmoʊmənts/
possessive form of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading It couldn't have been more than a moment's shock of pain.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
not any; not one
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder
From this reading It couldn't have been more than a moment's shock of pain.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading SHARP AND SUDDEN.
the feeling of distress and disbelief that you have when something bad happens accidentally
From this reading It couldn't have been more than a moment's shock of pain.
slackenverbUS /ˈslækən/
become slow or slower
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
slow-acting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading SHARP AND SUDDEN.
possessing sweep
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
create by training and teaching
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
the act of using
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But it was no use; for the brakes of those days were slow-acting; and before the train could do more than begin to slacken, all was over.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
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 The buffer caught him first, and swept him along; and then he was among the cruel wheels; and what they left of him was no longer— father!
an affirmative
From this reading YES; they did their best to stop in time.
