used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading Seeing America first--that was what he had been doing.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And what an appalling lot of it there was!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
appallingnounUS /əˈpɔːlɪŋ/
an experience that appalls
From this reading And what an appalling lot of it there was!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
ChicagonounUS /ʃəˈkɑːɡoʊ/
largest city in Illinois; a bustling Great Lakes port that extends 26 miles along the southwestern shoreline of Lake Michigan
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
concertnounUS /ˈkɑːnsərt/
a performance of music by players or singers not involving theatrical staging
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading Seeing America first--that was what he had been doing.
dottedadjectiveUS /ˈdɑːtəd/
having a pattern of dots
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
eternitynounUS /ɪˈtɜːrnəti/
time without end
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
fednounUS /fed/
any federal law-enforcement officer
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
the experiencing of affective and emotional states
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
ferryverbUS /ˈferi/
transport from one place to another
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Seeing America first--that was what he had been doing.
flittingverbUS /ˈflɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
inmatesnounUS /ˈɪnmeɪts/
plural of “inmate” — one of several resident of a dwelling (especially someone confined to a prison or hospital)
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And what an appalling lot of it there was!
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
limpverbUS /lɪmp/
walk impeded by some physical limitation or injury
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent
From this reading And what an appalling lot of it there was!
maroonedadjectiveUS /mərˈuːnd/
cut off or left behind
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
OaklandnounUS /ˈoʊklənd/
a city in western California on San Francisco Bay opposite San Francisco; primarily and industrial urban center
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And what an appalling lot of it there was!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
QuincynounUS /ˈkwɪnsi/
American patriot who presented the colonists' grievances to the English king (1744-1775)
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
on the contrary
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Seeing America first--that was what he had been doing.
the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
sleepersnounUS /ˈsliːpərz/
plural of “sleeper” — a rester who is sleeping
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
symphonynounUS /ˈsɪmfəni/
a long and complex sonata for symphony orchestra
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Seeing America first--that was what he had been doing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And what an appalling lot of it there was!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
create by training and teaching
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
unesthetic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
unquestionablyadverbUS /ənˈkwestʃənəbli/
without question
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For more than six days he had been marooned on sleepers--his pause at Chicago had been but a flitting from one train to another--and he was fed up.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Seeing America first--that was what he had been doing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He felt that for an eternity he had been staring at endless plains, dotted here and there by unesthetic houses the inmates of which had unquestionably never heard a symphony concert.
Winterslip
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HIGH HAT John Quincy Winterslip walked aboard the ferry at Oakland feeling rather limp and weary.
