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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
Angry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
awkward
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From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
bog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
brush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
bush
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
construction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
curve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
cut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
declared
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From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
delay
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From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
DISSATISFACTION
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From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
down
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
evening
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From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
fading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
farther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
fill
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
foremen
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From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
fresh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
gravel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
grumbled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
heads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
knew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
lay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
lengthnounUS /leŋθ/
a period of time or extent
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
light
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
line
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
Lister
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
LISTER'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
loads
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
logs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
morningnounUS /morning/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
muskeg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
new
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
numerous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
occupied
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
persuade
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
planned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
progress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
ran
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
return
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
rows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
Small
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
Soon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
standingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
stoodnounUS /stood/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
strenuously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
sucked
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
tangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
tired
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
tracknounUS /træk/
a route or signs showing the way someone went
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
trains
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The new line ran into a muskeg that sucked down brush and logs and the loads of numerous gravel trains.
trees
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Small trees lay in tangled rows about the fresh gravel; farther back, the standing bush ran in a broken line against the fading light.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Angry foremen declared one could not fill up the bog, and Lister knew the heads of the construction office grumbled about the delay.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
Winnipeg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LISTER'S DISSATISFACTION Soon after his return from Winnipeg, Lister stood one evening by a length of track planned to cut out an awkward curve.
work
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was tired, for he had been strenuously occupied since morning, but could not persuade himself that the work had made much progress.
