used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
at or in the front
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
ballasting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
boltingverbUS /ˈboʊltɪŋ/
-ing form of “bolt” — move or jump suddenly
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
checkingverbUS /ˈtʃekɪŋ/
-ing form of “check” — examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
cladadjectiveUS /klæd/
wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
constructionnounUS /kənˈstrʌkʃən/
the act of constructing something
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
Dave
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
gangnounUS /ɡæŋ/
an association of criminals
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
gaugeverbUS /ɡeɪdʒ/
judge tentatively or form an estimate of (quantities or time)
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
gravelnounUS /ˈɡrævəl/
rock fragments and pebbles
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
heednounUS /hiːd/
paying particular notice (as to children or helpless people)
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
the production of eggs (especially in birds)
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
levelingnounUS /ˈlevəlɪŋ/
changing the ground level to a smooth horizontal or gently sloping surface
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
the force of workers available
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
MILLSnounUS /mɪlz/
United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
oilskins
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
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 It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
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 Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
the back of a military formation or procession
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
requirementsnounUS /rɪˈkwaɪrmənts/
plural of “requirement” — required activity
From this reading It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
the context and environment in which something is set
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
spreadingnounUS /ˈspredɪŋ/
process or result of distributing or extending over a wide expanse of space
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
swingverbUS /swɪŋ/
move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
tiesnounUS /taɪz/
plural of “tie” — neckwear consisting of a long narrow piece of material worn (mostly by men) under a collar and tied in knot at the front
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The men, clad in oilskins, paid little heed to the rain.
trimmingnounUS /ˈtrɪmɪŋ/
the act of adding decoration
From this reading Ahead was the gang spreading the heavy stone gravel bed, behind it came those laying and trimming ties.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
precisely as stated
From this reading It was very rough railroad construction, but the result was sufficient for the requirements.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
at the time that
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Following close upon their heels came others engaged in setting and bolting the rails, while hard in the rear followed a gang leveling, checking gauge, and ballasting.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading THE OLD MILLS When Dave reached the construction camp the work was in full swing.
