used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
in the past
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
bangingnounUS /ˈbæŋɪŋ/
a continuing very loud noise
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
the lower side of anything
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
brimnounUS /brɪm/
the top edge of a vessel or other container
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
bumpedverbUS /bʌmpt/
past form of “bump” — knock against with force or violence
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
treated by heating to a high temperature but below the melting or fusing point
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
cagenounUS /keɪdʒ/
an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "Hang on, fellows!" cried Steve.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
drippingnounUS /ˈdrɪpɪŋ/
a liquid (as water) that flows in drops (as from the eaves of house)
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading "Hang on, fellows!" cried Steve.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
greasenounUS /ɡriːs/
a thick fatty oil (especially one used to lubricate machinery)
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
handcarnoun
a small railroad car propelled by hand or by a small motor
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
be suspended or hanging
From this reading "Hang on, fellows!" cried Steve.
headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
jarringadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɑːrɪŋ/
making or causing a harsh and irritating sound
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
joltnounUS /dʒoʊlt/
a sudden jarring impact
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
the force of workers available
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
not in physical motion
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
occasionaladjectiveUS /əˈkeɪʒənəl/
occurring from time to time
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
on one occasion
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
precipitateverbUS /prɪˈsɪpɪteɪt/
bring about abruptly
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
PROMOTIONnounUS /prəˈmoʊʃən/
a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
railroadnounUS /ˈreɪlroʊd/
line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
-ing form of “rest” — not move; be in a resting position
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
Rush'snounUS /ˈrʌʃɪz/
possessive form of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
except for; apart from
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Long ago Steve Rush's candle had burned out, the hot grease dripping down over his hat brim.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
tiesnounUS /taɪz/
plural of “tie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading Being off the track, it bumped along not unlike a handcar running on the ties of a railroad, banging from side to side of the shaft, threatening every instant to precipitate the three men to the bottom.
directed up
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
a message informing of danger
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
wearilyadverbUS /ˈwerəli/
in a weary manner
From this reading AN UNEXPECTED PROMOTION THE hours dragged wearily along, the cage resting motionless, save for an occasional jolt, in the dark shaft.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading All at once, without the usual jarring warning, the cage began to move slowly upward.
