Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Made in U. S. A.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

nearest in space or position; immediately adjoining without intervening space

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

installation from which a military force initiates operations

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

United States artist whose paintings portrayed life in the Midwest and South (1889-1975)

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

plural of “billow” — a large sea wave

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services

From this reading C. H. Simonds Co., Boston, U. S. A.

a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature

From this reading C. H. Simonds Co., Boston, U. S. A.

plural of “camper” — someone living temporarily in a tent or lodge for recreation

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

rid of obstructions

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading C. H. Simonds Co., Boston, U. S. A.

-ing form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

extend in scope or range or area

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

a rural area where farming is practiced

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

a nonmetallic univalent element that is normally a colorless and odorless highly flammable diatomic gas; the simplest and lightest and most abundant element in the universe

From this reading C. H. Simonds Co., Boston, U. S. A.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

kindness in welcoming guests or strangers

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Made in U. S. A.

past form of “indicate” — be a signal for or a symptom of

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Made in U. S. A.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

move about in a confused manner

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

out of fashion

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

relatively far from a center or middle

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

not taken into account

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

plural of “pasture” — a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

a small lake

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

be shown or be found to be

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

blowing tobacco smoke out into the air

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

be equal to in quality or ability

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

plural of “roller” — a grounder that rolls along the infield

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

a loud low dull continuous noise

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Made in U. S. A.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

the act of causing something to go (especially messages)

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

similar things placed in order or happening one after another

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading C. H. Simonds Co., Boston, U. S. A.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

shining with brilliant points of light like stars

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

possessive form of “spencer” — English philosopher and sociologist who applied the theory of natural selection to human societies (1820-1903)

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Or, The Mystery of the Mill Author of "The Rival Campers Series," "Prisoners of Fortune," etc.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

create by training and teaching

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Made in U. S. A.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

tanned and coarsened from being outdoors

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

covered with growing trees and bushes etc

From this reading The morning train from Benton, rumbling and puffing along its way through outlying farmland, and sending its billows of smoke like sea rollers across the pastures, drew up, ten miles from the city, at a little station that overlooked a pond, lying clear and sparkling at the base of some low, wooded hills.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading An old-fashioned, weather-beaten house, adjacent the station, and displaying a sign-board bearing the one word, "Spencer's," indicated that Spencer, whoever he might prove to be, would probably extend the hospitality of his place to travellers.