used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He began to scold himself, “Won’t I ever grow up?”
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
next to; at the side of
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
childishadjectiveUS /ˈtʃaɪldɪʃ/
indicating a lack of maturity
From this reading What a childish fellow he was.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
separated in space or coming from or going to a distance
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
at any time
From this reading He began to scold himself, “Won’t I ever grow up?”
opinion or judgment
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/
a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
a boy or man
From this reading What a childish fellow he was.
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
the act of departing
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become
From this reading He began to scold himself, “Won’t I ever grow up?”
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading He began to scold himself, “Won’t I ever grow up?”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
industrialadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈdʌstriəl/
of or relating to or resulting from industry
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
and nothing more
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
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 As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
roadbednoun
a bed supporting a road
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
scoldverbUS /skoʊld/
censure severely or angrily
From this reading He began to scold himself, “Won’t I ever grow up?”
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
sorryadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːri/
feeling or expressing regret or sorrow or a sense of loss over something done or undone
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
topsadjectiveUS /tɑːps/
of the highest quality
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
hard to endure
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading As he hurried along the railroad tracks, trying to think, trying not to think, he kept his eyes turned to the ground and something attracted his attention.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He began to scold himself, “Won’t I ever grow up?”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
(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 now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a childish fellow he was.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To the west, over the tops of distant trees and across the shallow river beside which his factory stood, the sun was just going down and its rays were suddenly caught by something that looked like a piece of glass lying among the stones on the railroad roadbed.
Won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He began to scold himself, “Won’t I ever grow up?”
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Well now he had begun to be a little sorry for himself, that he was not cut out to be a big figure in the industrial world.
