used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
at or in the front
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
BradleynounUS /ˈbrædli/
United States politician who was elected the first black mayor of Los Angeles (1917-1998)
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
BuckverbUS /bʌk/
to strive with determination
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
buoyantadjectiveUS /ˈbɔɪənt/
tending to float on a liquid or rise in air or gas
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
compoundnounUS /ˈkɑːmpaʊnd/
a whole formed by a union of two or more elements or parts
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
enterprisenounUS /ˈentərpraɪz/
a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
facingnounUS /ˈfeɪsɪŋ/
a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
past form of “flash” — gleam or glow intermittently
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
moving swiftly
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
footplatenoun
the platform in the cab of a locomotive on which the engineer stands to operate the controls
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
past form of “gain” — obtain
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
hand-rail
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
headwaynounUS /ˈhedweɪ/
vertical space available to allow easy passage under something
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
the act of retaining something
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
a small worthless amount
From this reading JACK MERRILL'S "SPECIAL."
joltedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊltɪd/
bumped or shaken jerkily
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
ladsnounUS /lædz/
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
landscapenounUS /ˈlændskeɪp/
an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
MERRILL'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading JACK MERRILL'S "SPECIAL."
metalsnounUS /ˈmetəlz/
plural of “metal” — any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
obliviousadjectiveUS /əˈblɪviəs/
(followed by “to” or “of”) lacking conscious awareness of
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
parallelnounUS /ˈperəlel/
something having the property of being analogous to something else
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
polesnounUS /poʊlz/
plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
ponderousadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːndərəs/
slow and laborious because of weight
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
past form of “render” — cause to become
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
scanningnounUS /ˈskænɪŋ/
the process of translating photographs into a digital form that can be recognized by a computer
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
a general conscious awareness
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
transport commercially
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
shovelingverbUS /ˈʃʌvlɪŋ/
-ing form of “shovel” — dig with or as if with a shovel
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading JACK MERRILL'S "SPECIAL."
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
stormyadjectiveUS /ˈstɔːrmi/
(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
swamverbUS /swæm/
inflected form of “swim” — travel through water
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
telegraphnounUS /ˈteləɡræf/
apparatus used to communicate at a distance over a wire (usually in Morse code)
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The landscape swam by, the telegraph poles flashed past, as the flying locomotive gained headway.
thrillnounUS /θrɪl/
the swift release of a store of affective force
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading But the thrill of adventure, the buoyant sense of facing a big enterprise, rendered the lads oblivious to everything but the track ahead.
tracksnounUS /træks/
plural of “track” — a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading The ponderous compound jolted and swung along over the rough tracks like a ship in a stormy sea.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading From time to time, Buck Bradley stopped his shoveling, and, holding by a hand-rail, leaned far out from the footplate, scanning the metals that stretched out in two parallel lines ahead.
