used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The work of grading had already commenced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ralph was interested in this as a railroader.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
past form of “commence” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The work of grading had already commenced.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
DavisnounUS /ˈdeɪvəs/
English navigator who explored the Arctic while searching for the Northwest Passage (1550-1605)
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
factorynounUS /ˈfæktəri/
a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
Farrington's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
Gasper
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
gradingnounUS /ˈɡreɪdɪŋ/
the act of arranging in a graduated series
From this reading The work of grading had already commenced.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The work of grading had already commenced.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ralph was interested in this as a railroader.
having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern
From this reading Ralph was interested in this as a railroader.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
and nothing more
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
a person who is being chased
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
railroadernoun
an employee of a railroad
From this reading Ralph was interested in this as a railroader.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
ravinenounUS /rəˈviːn/
a deep narrow steep-sided valley (especially one formed by running water)
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
routenounUS /ruːt/
an established line of travel or access
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
shortestadjectiveUS /ˈʃɔːrtɪst/
superlative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
spurnounUS /spɜːr/
a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading It was the shortest, and it was here that the switch spur was to run up to Gasper Farrington’s old factory.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
in or at the place that
From this reading The nearest cut to the house where Mrs. Davis lived was along a sort of a ravine, and Ralph pursued this route.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The work of grading had already commenced.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was not to be a very particular job, as the service would be only occasional.
