adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
acceptedadjectiveUS /ækˈseptɪd/
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
acquaintancenounUS /əˈkweɪntəns/
personal knowledge or information about someone or something
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
beingsnounUS /ˈbiːɪŋz/
plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
belatedadjectiveUS /bɪˈleɪtɪd/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
BLACKadjectiveUS /blæk/
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 BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
Blarcom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
blewverbUS /bluː/
inflected form of “blow” — exhale hard
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
BUTTERFLIESnounUS /ˈbʌtərflaɪz/
plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
callverbUS /kɔːl/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
cheerfullyadverbUS /ˈtʃɪrfəli/
in a cheerful manner
From this reading “Why, hello!” he greeted me cheerfully.
compartmentnounUS /kəmˈpɑːrtmənt/
a space into which an area is subdivided
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
departurenounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtʃər/
the act of departing
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
directverbUS /dərˈekt/
command with authority
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
give expression to
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
fellow-voyager
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
ferretedverbUS /ˈferətəd/
past form of “ferret” — hound or harry relentlessly
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
FrancenounUS /fræns/
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading “Going through to France?
GoingnounUS /ˈɡoʊɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading “Going through to France?
gracenounUS /ɡreɪs/
(Christian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who is under such divine influence
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading “Why, hello!” he greeted me cheerfully.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
hellonounUS /həˈloʊ/
an expression of greeting
From this reading “Why, hello!” he greeted me cheerfully.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
ignoredadjectiveUS /ˌɪɡˈnɔːrd/
disregarded
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
intrudernounUS /ˌɪnˈtruːdər/
someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
ItaliansnounUS /ˌɪˈtæljənz/
plural of “italian” — a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
joinedadjectiveUS /dʒɔɪnd/
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
moroseadjectiveUS /mərˈoʊs/
showing a brooding ill humor
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
o'clockadverbUS /əˈklɑːk/
according to the clock
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
popularadjectiveUS /ˈpɑːpjələr/
regarded with great favor, approval, or affection especially by the general public
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
quiteadverbUS /kwaɪt/
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
singleadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡəl/
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
solitudenounUS /ˈsɑːlətuːd/
a state of social isolation
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
soundedverbUS /ˈsaʊndɪd/
past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
suitverbUS /suːt/
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading “Going through to France?
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
travelernounUS /ˈtrævələr/
a person who changes location
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
troublenounUS /ˈtrʌbəl/
a source of difficulty
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
Turin-Paris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
unwelcomeadjectiveUS /ənˈwelkəm/
not welcome; not giving pleasure or received with pleasure
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
vacantadjectiveUS /ˈveɪkənt/
void of intelligence or thought
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
VannounUS /væn/
any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)
From this reading The unwelcome intruder was Mr. John Van Blarcom, my late fellow-voyager, and he accepted the encounter with a better grace than I.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
whistleverbUS /ˈwɪsəl/
make whistling sounds
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why, hello!” he greeted me cheerfully.
wishedverbUS /wɪʃt/
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading THE BLACK BUTTERFLIES The Turin-Paris express--the most direct, the Italians call it--was too popular by half to suit the taste of morose beings who wished for solitude.
WithprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
worseadjectiveUS /wɜːrs/
(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability
From this reading With great trouble and pains I had ferreted out a single vacant compartment; but as four o’clock sounded and the whistle blew for departure, a belated traveler joined me--worse still, an acquaintance who could not be quite ignored.
