used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
accommodationnounUS /əˌkɑːməˈdeɪʃən/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading They were spoken by the conductor of the accommodation train sharply.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
a youthful male person
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading They were spoken by the conductor of the accommodation train sharply.
ClarknounUS /klɑːrk/
United States explorer who (with Meriwether Lewis) led an expedition from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River; Clark was responsible for making maps of the area (1770-1838)
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
conductornounUS /kənˈdʌktər/
the person who leads a musical group
From this reading They were spoken by the conductor of the accommodation train sharply.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
Dreamilyadverb
in a dreamy manner
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
engineernounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪr/
a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
FairbanksnounUS /ˈferbəŋks/
United States film actor; son of Douglas Elton Fairbanks, (1909-2000)
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
levernounUS /ˈlevər/
a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
Marvin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were spoken by the conductor of the accommodation train sharply.
PLOTnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
promptverbUS /prɑːmpt/
give an incentive for action
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
rallyingnounUS /ˈræliɪŋ/
the act of mobilizing for a common purpose
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
Ralph
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
removingverbUS /riˈmuːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “remove” — remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
tending to return to an earlier state
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
in an aggressive manner
From this reading They were spoken by the conductor of the accommodation train sharply.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading They were spoken by the conductor of the accommodation train sharply.
standstillnounUS /ˈstændstɪl/
a situation in which no progress can be made or no advancement is possible
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were spoken by the conductor of the accommodation train sharply.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
create by training and teaching
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
a vivid mental image
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
which person or people
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading A SERIOUS PLOT "Who stopped this train--and why?"
wonderinglyadverb
in a curious and questioning manner
From this reading The locomotive was at a standstill, and, staring wonderingly, the conductor stood by the side of the tender.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Dreamily returning to consciousness, these were the first words that reached Ralph Fairbanks' rallying consciousness.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading "I did," answered a prompt voice, and removing his hand from the lever, the boy whom the young engineer had known as Marvin Clark drifted before his vision.
