Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
aside
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
big-voiced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
building
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
C
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
canyon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
Central
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
checking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
clang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
comes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
construction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
crewnounUS /crew/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
Dick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
directed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
edge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
end-of-track
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
exciting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
Extension
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
FELLOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
fellows
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
field
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
flat-car
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
force
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
foreman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
gold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
growing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
guessing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
hand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
JONES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
just
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
keeping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
kept
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
Larry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
LittlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
load
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
material
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
mechanical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
member
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
men
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
miles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
NAMED
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
namely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
Now
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
O
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
Ophir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
opposite
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
out
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
Overland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
present-moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
process
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
pullednounUS /pulled/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
purely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
questionnounUS /ˈquestion/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
race
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
railroad
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
rails
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
saying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
shipment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
speed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
StandingnounUS /ˈstanding/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
steel
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
surenounUS /sure/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
then
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
together
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A FELLOW NAMED JONES “Now then, men――together!”
toiling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
top
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
two
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
unloading
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
weeks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
wentnounUS /went/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Standing aside to be out of the way, Larry and Dick were checking the shipment of steel.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
win
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading _clang!_ The material train had just pulled up to the present-moment end-of-track on the Extension with a flat-car load of rails, and the crew, directed by a big-voiced foreman, was unloading the car.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The checking being a purely mechanical process, the two went on with their talk about the thing that had kept every member of the toiling construction force on edge for weeks; namely, the exciting question, which was growing more exciting from day to day, as to whether their railroad or the Overland Central, building at top speed on the opposite side of the canyon, would win the race to the Little Ophir gold field, now only twenty miles away.
You'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You’ll sure have to hand it to those O. C. fellows when it comes to keeping us guessing,” Dick was saying.
