used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
cavernousadjectiveUS /ˈkævərnəs/
being or suggesting a cavern
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
chancedverbUS /tʃænst/
past form of “chance” — be the case by chance
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
coalnounUS /koʊl/
fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
an authoritative direction or instruction to do something
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
delaysnounUS /dɪˈleɪz/
plural of “delay” — time during which some action is awaited
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
engine'snounUS /ˈendʒənz/
possessive form of “engine” — motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
ERRORSnounUS /ˈerərz/
plural of “error” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
give expression to
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
FallowadjectiveUS /ˈfæloʊ/
left unplowed and unseeded during a growing season
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
firemennounUS /ˈfaɪrmən/
plural of “fireman” — play in which children pretend to put out a fire
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
hefting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
irritatingadjectiveUS /ˈɪrəteɪtɪŋ/
causing irritation or annoyance
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
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 had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
the deliberate act of deviating from the truth
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
marredadjectiveUS /mɑːrd/
blemished by injury or rough wear
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
mawnounUS /mɔː/
informal terms for the mouth
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
mendverbUS /mend/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
peevedadjectiveUS /piːvd/
aroused to impatience or anger
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
Pittsburg
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
stacknounUS /stæk/
an orderly pile
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
streamingadjectiveUS /ˈstriːmɪŋ/
exuding a bodily fluid in profuse amounts
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
SundryadjectiveUS /ˈsʌndri/
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading Sundry irritating delays had marred his run from Pittsburg.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
time-losses
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
TitanicadjectiveUS /taɪˈtænɪk/
of great force or power
From this reading His firemen had been hefting coal into the engine’s cavernous maw in a Titanic effort to mend the time-losses.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
create by training and teaching
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
transpiringadjectiveUS /trænˈspaɪərɪŋ/
that is passing through
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
be awake, be alert, be there
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
west-bound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading On the west-bound train “Captain” Fallow chanced to be in command, and “Captain” Fallow was peeved.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS While these matters were transpiring, the sister express was rushing west.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The locomotive had been roaring along with a streaming wake of black smoke lying level from its stack.
