used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
barsnounUS /bɑːrz/
gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
cartnounUS /kɑːrt/
a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading It had not changed since I saw it last.
crazieradjectiveUS /ˈkreɪziər/
comparative of “crazy” — affected with madness or insanity
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
crazyadjectiveUS /ˈkreɪzi/
affected with madness or insanity
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
decayingverbUS /dɪˈkeɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “decay” — lose a stored charge, magnetic flux, or current
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
one or the other of two
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
embankmentnounUS /emˈbæŋkmənt/
a long artificial mound of stone or earth; built to hold back water or to support a road or as protection
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
FAGAN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
set up or found
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It had not changed since I saw it last.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
hutsnounUS /hʌts/
plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It had not changed since I saw it last.
plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
immediately past
From this reading It had not changed since I saw it last.
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
marshyadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrʃi/
(of soil) soft and watery
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
metalnounUS /ˈmetəl/
any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc.
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
nipanoun
monotypic genus of palms of Australasia
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It had not changed since I saw it last.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
paddiesnounUS /ˈpædiz/
plural of “paddy” — (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Irish descent
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
pencil-stroke
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
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 FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
railsnounUS /reɪlz/
a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
ruledadjectiveUS /ruːld/
subject to a ruling authority
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
cut with a saw
From this reading It had not changed since I saw it last.
express in words
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
shimmeredverbUS /ˈʃɪmərd/
past form of “shimmer” — shine with a weak or fitful light
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading It had not changed since I saw it last.
not in physical motion
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
successive (without a break)
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions
From this reading The crazy huts of nipa, and crazier, decaying houses, still stood thick on either side of the one street.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
unendingadjectiveUS /əˈnendɪŋ/
continuing forever or indefinitely
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
wallowedverbUS /ˈwɑːloʊd/
past form of “wallow” — devote oneself entirely to something; indulge in to an immoderate degree, usually with pleasure
From this reading The cart road still wallowed into it, and out of it, for the town is set on an island in the marshy level of the paddies.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
well-remembered
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading FAGAN I found myself "up the railroad," as we used to say, in a well-remembered town.
white-hotadjective
intensely zealous or fervid
From this reading The railroad still ran through it, straight as a pencil-stroke ruled across the flat lands, and the rails, on their embankment, shimmered in the sun like two unending bars of white-hot metal.
