Chapter VII

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Back and forth along the grade toiled the wagons, distributing ties and provisions.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

-ing form of “distribute” — administer or bestow, as in small portions

From this reading Back and forth along the grade toiled the wagons, distributing ties and provisions.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

plural of “engineer” — a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Back and forth along the grade toiled the wagons, distributing ties and provisions.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

possessive form of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

a body of students who are taught together

From this reading Back and forth along the grade toiled the wagons, distributing ties and provisions.

plural of “grader” — a judge who assigns grades to something

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

a member of the Siouan people formerly living in Iowa and Minnesota and Missouri

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

past form of “march” — march in a procession

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

in motion

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

a member of the Siouan people formerly living in the Missouri river valley in northeastern Nebraska

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

the act of fixing firmly in place

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

a river in Nebraska that flows eastward to become a tributary of the Missouri River

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

flowing profusely

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading Back and forth along the grade toiled the wagons, distributing ties and provisions.

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

the money risked on a gamble

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

not in physical motion

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

a step in walking or running

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

plural of “supply” — an amount of something available for use

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

past form of “thunder” — move fast, noisily, and heavily

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

plural of “tie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

past form of “toil” — work hard

From this reading Back and forth along the grade toiled the wagons, distributing ties and provisions.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive

From this reading From Omaha to North Platte thundered the trains, bringing fresh supplies, other rails and other ties, to be taken on by the construction-trains.

hard to endure

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading But the tie-layers, planting their ties every two feet, managed to hold the advance; and twenty, thirty, fifty miles in advance of them, the graders followed the stakes of the engineers.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading MOVING DAY ALONG THE LINE ON marched the rails of the iron trail, at a giant’s stride of one to two miles in a day, as if trying to catch the tie-layers and the graders.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.

plural of “wagon” — any of various kinds of wheeled vehicles drawn by an animal or a tractor

From this reading Back and forth along the grade toiled the wagons, distributing ties and provisions.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading And into Omaha were pouring, by boat up from St. Louis and St. Joe, and by wagon from Iowa, still other rails and ties and provisions, from the farther east.