used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
Calford
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
assets available for use in the production of further assets
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
coal-dust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
coloredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading There were colored Pullman servants, and waiters, and cooks from the dining-cars.
conductorsnounUS /kənˈdʌktərz/
plural of “conductor” — the person who leads a musical group
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
cooksnounUS /kʊks/
plural of “cook” — someone who cooks food
From this reading There were colored Pullman servants, and waiters, and cooks from the dining-cars.
departmentsnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənts/
plural of “department” — a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
dining-cars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were colored Pullman servants, and waiters, and cooks from the dining-cars.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
divisible by two
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
opinion or judgment
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
freightersnounUS /ˈfreɪtərz/
plural of “freighter” — a cargo ship
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
hard-muscled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
the quality of being humane
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
locomotivenounUS /ˌloʊkəˈmoʊtɪv/
a wheeled vehicle consisting of a self-propelled engine that is used to draw trains along railway tracks
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
the force of workers available
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
neighborhoodsnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊdz/
plural of “neighborhood” — a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
outskirtsnounUS /ˈaʊtskɜːrts/
outlying areas (as of a city or town)
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
packedadjectiveUS /pækt/
extremely crowed or filled to capacity
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
pooreradjectiveUS /ˈpuːrər/
comparative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
PullmannounUS /ˈpʊlmən/
luxurious passenger car; for day or night travel
From this reading There were colored Pullman servants, and waiters, and cooks from the dining-cars.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
relieve from
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)
From this reading There were colored Pullman servants, and waiters, and cooks from the dining-cars.
stern-faced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
suffocationnounUS /ˌsʌfəˈkeɪʃən/
killing by depriving of oxygen
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was packed almost to suffocation by an audience of stern-faced, eager humanity.
tracesnounUS /ˈtreɪsəz/
plural of “trace” — a just detectable amount
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
create by training and teaching
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
uniformedadjectiveUS /ˈjuːnəfɔːrmd/
dressed in a uniform
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
waitersnounUS /ˈweɪtərz/
plural of “waiter” — a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading There were colored Pullman servants, and waiters, and cooks from the dining-cars.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CAPITAL AND LABOR It was a large hall on the outskirts of Calford, in one of the poorer neighborhoods.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were the ample figures of uniformed train conductors; there were the thin, hard-muscled freighters.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There were men from the locomotive departments, with traces of coal-dust about their eyes, of which, even in their leisure, they never seem quite able to rid themselves.
