used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
adventurousadjectiveUS /ædˈventʃərəs/
willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
ambushverbUS /ˈæmbʊʃ/
wait in hiding to attack
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
outward or visible aspect of a person or thing
From this reading The appearance of the locomotive was unwelcome.
attackedverbUS /əˈtækt/
past form of “attack” — launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
bridge-builders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
the particular occupation for which you are trained
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
capacitynounUS /kəˈpæsəti/
capability to perform or produce
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
true confidential information
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading TRACK-LAYERS FOUGHT REDSKINS.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
guardedadjectiveUS /ˈɡɑːrdəd/
prudent
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
hostileadjectiveUS /ˈhɑːstəl/
characterized by enmity or ill will
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading The appearance of the locomotive was unwelcome.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
not any; not one
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The appearance of the locomotive was unwelcome.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
in the right manner; correctly; suitably
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
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 When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
railroadernoun
an employee of a railroad
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
REDSKINSnounUS /ˈredskɪnz/
plural of “redskin” — (slang) offensive term for Native Americans
From this reading TRACK-LAYERS FOUGHT REDSKINS.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
SurveyorsnounUS /sərˈveɪərz/
plural of “surveyor” — an engineer who determines the boundaries and elevations of land or structures
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
TRACK-LAYERS
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading TRACK-LAYERS FOUGHT REDSKINS.
soldiers collectively
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading Surveyors, track-layers, bridge-builders and others if not properly guarded by details of United States troops were attacked from ambush and often killed.
unwelcomeadjectiveUS /ənˈwelkəm/
not welcome; not giving pleasure or received with pleasure
From this reading The appearance of the locomotive was unwelcome.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
wasn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
at the time that
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
marked by extreme lack of restraint or control
From this reading When the Union Pacific Railroad was being built the Indians were wild and hostile.
wildernessnounUS /ˈwɪldərnəs/
(politics) a state of disfavor
From this reading It was indeed an adventurous calling to be a railroader in those days, no matter in what capacity; for if it wasn't Indians it was something else that made it so in the then wilderness.
