used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Give me a lift, will you?
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading I am through with my work here," observed the man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
backedadjectiveUS /bækt/
having a back or backing, usually of a specified type
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
DovernounUS /ˈdoʊvər/
the capital of the state of Delaware
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
firemannounUS /ˈfaɪrmən/
play in which children pretend to put out a fire
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading "Give me a lift, will you?
the act of departing
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
Griscom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I am through with my work here," observed the man.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I am through with my work here," observed the man.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
raise from a lower to a higher position
From this reading "Give me a lift, will you?
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Give me a lift, will you?
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I am through with my work here," observed the man.
inflected form of “nod” — express or signify by nodding
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading I am through with my work here," observed the man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
questionernounUS /ˈkwestʃənər/
someone who asks a question
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
recentlyadverbUS /ˈriːsəntli/
in the recent past
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
RUNAWAYnounUS /ˈrʌnəweɪ/
an easy victory
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
sidingnounUS /ˈsaɪdɪŋ/
a short stretch of railroad track used to store rolling stock or enable trains on the same line to pass
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
suspiciouslyadverbUS /səˈspɪʃəsli/
with suspicion
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading I am through with my work here," observed the man.
up to a particular time
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
create by training and teaching
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
TRAINSnounUS /treɪnz/
plural of “train” — public transport provided by a line of railway cars coupled together and drawn by a locomotive
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
at the time that
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
in or at the place that
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
which person or people
From this reading "Going into Dover?" inquired the man who had rendered Ralph such signal service.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading "Give me a lift, will you?
in the company of; together with
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading I am through with my work here," observed the man.
an affirmative
From this reading "Yes," nodded Griscom, looking the questioner over suspiciously, as was his custom with all strangers recently since the strike began.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Give me a lift, will you?
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading THE RUNAWAY TRAINS Ralph and his companion followed the train till it left the siding, when the young fireman set the switch and they stood by the side of the track until the locomotive backed down to where they were.
