adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading She had known mountains all her life.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
beautynounUS /ˈbjuːti/
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
bloodnounUS /blʌd/
The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
bravedverbUS /breɪvd/
past form of “brave” — face and withstand with courage
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
brownnounUS /braʊn/
an orange of low brightness and saturation
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
constantadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstənt/
unvarying in nature
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
continentnounUS /ˈkɑːntənənt/
one of the large landmasses of the earth
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
depthsnounUS /depθs/
(plural) the deepest and most remote part
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
DesirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
dizzyadjectiveUS /ˈdɪzi/
having or causing a whirling sensation; liable to falling
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
druggedadjectiveUS /drʌɡd/
under the influence of narcotics
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
duringprepositionUS /ˈdʊrɪŋ/
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
ever-climbing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
familiaradjectiveUS /fəˈmɪljər/
well known or easily recognized
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
heldadjectiveUS /held/
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading She had known mountains all her life.
hillsnounUS /hɪlz/
plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
incredibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkredəbəl/
beyond belief or understanding
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading She had known mountains all her life.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading She had known mountains all her life.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
man-madeadjectiveUS /ˈmænmeɪd/
not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
marvelverbUS /ˈmɑːrvəl/
be amazed at
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
millionnounUS /ˈmɪljən/
the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
mountainsnounUS /ˈmaʊntənz/
plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill
From this reading She had known mountains all her life.
observationnounUS /ˌɑːbzərˈveɪʃən/
the act of making and recording a measurement
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
peaksnounUS /piːks/
plural of “peak” — the most extreme possible amount or value
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
pilingnounUS /ˈpaɪlɪŋ/
a column of wood or steel or concrete that is driven into the ground to provide support for a structure
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
pinesnounUS /paɪnz/
plural of “pine” — a coniferous tree
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
platformnounUS /ˈplætfɔːrm/
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
puffedadjectiveUS /pʌft/
gathered for protruding fullness
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
pushingnounUS /ˈpʊʃɪŋ/
the act of applying force in order to move something away
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
rushingnounUS /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
ShepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading She had known mountains all her life.
shouldersnounUS /ˈʃoʊldərz/
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
soundnounUS /saʊnd/
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
speechlessadjectiveUS /ˈspiːtʃləs/
temporarily incapable of speaking
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
spellboundadjectiveUS /ˈspelbaʊnd/
having your attention fixated as though by a spell
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
steadilyadverbUS /ˈstedəli/
at a steady rate or pace
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
tracknounUS /træk/
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
trainverbUS /treɪn/
create by training and teaching
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
TranscontinentaladjectiveUS /ˌtrænzkɑːntɪˈnentəl/
spanning or crossing or on the farther side of a continent
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
twistingnounUS /ˈtwɪstɪŋ/
the act of distorting something so it seems to mean something it was not intended to mean
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
valleysnounUS /ˈvæliz/
plural of “valley” — a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river
From this reading But these heights and depths, these incredible valleys, these ever-climbing, piling hills pushing brown shoulders through their million pines, the dizzy, twisting track and the constant marvel of the man-made train which braved it, held her spellbound and almost speechless.
VancouvernounUS /vænˈkuːvər/
English navigator remembered for his exploration of the Pacific coast of North America (1757-1798)
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
waternounUS /ˈwɔːtər/
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading They were dear and familiar, and the sound of rushing water was in her blood.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
white-capped
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The long Transcontinental puffed steadily up toward the white-capped peaks of a continent.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading They were a day out from Vancouver--a day during which Desire had sat upon the observation platform, drugged with wonder and beauty.
