used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
anew
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
in a state of sleep
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
brakesnounUS /breɪks/
a braking device consisting of a combination of interacting parts that work to slow a motor vehicle
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
conductornounUS /kənˈdʌktər/
the person who leads a musical group
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
cotnounUS /kɑːt/
a sheath worn to protect a finger
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
crawlverbUS /krɔːl/
move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
creakingnounUS /ˈkriːkɪŋ/
a squeaking sound
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
descendverbUS /dɪˈsend/
move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
eyelidsnounUS /ˈaɪlɪdz/
plural of “eyelid” — either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
a period of time assigned for work
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
lanternnounUS /ˈlæntərn/
light in a transparent protective case
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
mechanicaladjectiveUS /məˈkænɪkəl/
using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
make or become more narrow or restricted
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
pretendingnounUS /priˈtendɪŋ/
the act of giving a false appearance
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
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 Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
with speed
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
reptilenounUS /ˈreptaɪl/
any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia including tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and extinct forms
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
sheeradjectiveUS /ʃɪr/
complete and without restriction or qualification; sometimes used informally as intensifiers
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
shiftingadjectiveUS /ˈʃɪftɪŋ/
continuously varying
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
shirkverbUS /ʃɜːrk/
avoid (one's assigned duties)
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
move hurridly
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
the season of growth
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
swingingnounUS /ˈswɪŋɪŋ/
changing location by moving back and forth
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
switchmannoun
a man who operates railroad switches
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then the creaking, mechanical reptile would crawl along and speed away again.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
tortureverbUS /ˈtɔːrtʃər/
torment emotionally or mentally
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
unpadded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading |THE cot was hard and narrow, and it had sides of unpadded boards.
past form of “watch” — look attentively
From this reading Through partly closed eyelids he watched the railroad man as he sat in the doorway looking out at the rapidly shifting night view.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
at the time that
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For hours Fred lay pretending to be asleep, that he might shirk the sheer torture of conversation with his friend.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When a station was reached the conductor would spring up, and with his lantern swinging in his hand he would descend to the ground and wave his light or call out an order to a switchman or the man at the brakes.
