Chapter III

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

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

anew

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

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

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

the quality of yielding nothing of value

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

the formal act of approving

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

the state of being suitable or opportune

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

-ing form of “desert” — leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

avoiding emotional involvement

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

plural of “diner” — a person eating a meal (especially in a restaurant)

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

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

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

something that provides access (to get in or get out)

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

opinion or judgment

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

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

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

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

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

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

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

relating to or associated with an empire

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

the place where two or more things come together

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

plural of “labor” — a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

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

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

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 The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

most important element

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

on one occasion

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

possessive form of “porter” — a person employed to carry luggage and supplies

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

past form of “precede” — be earlier in time; go back further

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

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

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

the act of applying force in order to move something away

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

on the contrary

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

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

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

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

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

the place where some action occurs

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

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

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

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

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

inflected form of “slam” — close violently

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

filled with steam or emitting moisture in the form of vapor or mist

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

a simple seat without a back or arms

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

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

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

the swift release of a store of affective force

From this reading He felt again the thrill of detachment that invariably preceded his entrance into a new country.

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

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

in the direction of

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

create by training and teaching

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

a city in southeastern Arizona ringed by mountain ranges; long known as a winter and health resort but the population shift from industrial states to the Sunbelt resulted in rapid growth late in the 20th century

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

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

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

at the time that

From this reading THE BLESSING OF ARIDITY WHEN Rickard left the main line at Imperial Junction the next afternoon, his eyes followed the train he was deserting rather than the one that was to carry him to his new labors.

in or at the place that

From this reading Old Beach, rechristened Imperial Junction for railroad convenience, was itself lower than the ancient sea-line where once the gulf had reached.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The long line of cars was pushing off with its linen-covered Pullmans and diners, steaming down-grade toward the Sink, the depression which had been primeval sea, and then desert, and was now sea again.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With the pulling up of the porter’s green-carpeted stool, the slamming of the train gates, the curtain fell on the Tucson set scene.