Chapter XX

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

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

anew

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

any of various water-soluble compounds capable of turning litmus blue and reacting with an acid to form a salt and water

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

(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 HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

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

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

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

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

past form of “belch” — expel gas from the stomach

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

a container; usually has a lid

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

plural of “boiler” — sealed vessel where water is converted to steam

From this reading The occupants were roasted in the heat of its boilers.

a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

plural of “cinder” — a fragment of incombustible matter left after a wood or coal or charcoal fire

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

teach and supervise (someone); act as a trainer or coach (to), as in sports

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

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

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

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

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

plural of “grade” — a body of students who are taught together

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a form of energy that is transferred by a difference in temperature

From this reading The occupants were roasted in the heat of its boilers.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

crowded or massed together

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

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

From this reading The occupants were roasted in the heat of its boilers.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

doing arduous or unpleasant work

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

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

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

a native or inhabitant of Mexico

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there

From this reading The occupants were roasted in the heat of its boilers.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

past form of “overwork” — use too much

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

extremely crowed or filled to capacity

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

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

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

in a precarious manner

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

past form of “protest” — utter words of protest

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

blowing tobacco smoke out into the air

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

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

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

plural of “refugee” — an exile who flees for safety

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

past form of “roar” — make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

(meat) cooked by dry heat in an oven

From this reading The occupants were roasted in the heat of its boilers.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a long brightly colored shawl; worn mainly by Mexican men

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

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

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

uttered in a shrill scream as of pain or terror

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

the underside of footwear or a golf club

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

a black colloidal substance consisting wholly or principally of amorphous carbon and used to make pigments and ink

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

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

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

in a tight or constricted manner

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

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

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

create by training and teaching

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

fall down, as if collapsing

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

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

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Between them was a fair-faced señorita--Lois, who clutched her black _serape_ tightly under her chin.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.

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

From this reading The occupants were roasted in the heat of its boilers.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading It belched its soot and cinders through the open door of the coach which swung precariously upon the tail of its coal bin.

which person or people

From this reading Huddled among the Mexican refugees, who packed the sole passenger coach which the laboring train drew through the desert, sat Raquel in her peón costume and Georgie.

in the company of; together with

From this reading HOME WITH THE HERD The puffing engine that shrieked and roared its way up the grades and shrieked and protested its way down again, as it crawled mile by mile nearer the American border seemed to Raquel an overworked heart that might stop or burst any minute, and tumble them all into the alkali desert.