used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
accidentaladjectiveUS /ˌæksəˈdentəl/
happening by chance or unexpectedly or unintentionally
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
Bidwell
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
eveningsnounUS /ˈiːvnɪŋz/
plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
Hugh
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
IndiananounUS /ˌɪndiˈænə/
a state in midwestern United States
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
McVey
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
MissouriannounUS /məˈzʊriən/
a native or resident of Missouri
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
neighboringadjectiveUS /ˈneɪbərɪŋ/
having a common boundary or edge; abutting; touching
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
northernadjectiveUS /ˈnɔːrðərn/
in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
operatornounUS /ˈɑːpəreɪtər/
(mathematics) a symbol or function representing a mathematical operation
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
the state of being held in high esteem and honor
From this reading As had happened to him in other places, he had the reputation of being queer.
residentadjectiveUS /ˈrezɪdənt/
living in a particular place
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
roadsnounUS /roʊdz/
a partly sheltered anchorage
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
sawmillnounUS /ˈsɔːmɪl/
a large sawing machine
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
exchange thoughts; talk with
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
twenty-threenounUS /ˈtwentiθriː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twenty-two and one
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
past form of “wander” — move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From this reading During the evenings he wandered on country roads and in the town streets, but he did not talk to any one.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
WheelingnounUS /ˈwiːlɪŋ/
a city in the northern panhandle of West Virginia on the Ohio river
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
at the time that
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The position of telegraph operator at the Wheeling station a mile north of town became vacant and, through an accidental encounter with a former resident of a neighboring town, he got the place.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The Missourian had been at work during the winter in a sawmill in the country near a northern Indiana town.
a late time of life
From this reading Hugh McVey was twenty-three years old when he went to live in Bidwell.
