used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
backingnounUS /ˈbækɪŋ/
the act of providing approval and support
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
next to; at the side of
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
coachesnounUS /ˈkoʊtʃɪz/
plural of “coach” — (sports) someone in charge of training an athlete or a team
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
having or capable of producing colors
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
couplingnounUS /ˈkʌplɪŋ/
a connection (like a clamp or vise) between two things so they move together
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
deferverbUS /dɪˈfɜːr/
hold back to a later time
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
Dixer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
motor that converts thermal energy to mechanical work
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
a contest with rules to determine a winner
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
only a very short time before
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
HawknounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading The Hawk shrugged his shoulders resignedly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Hawk shrugged his shoulders resignedly.
importantlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtəntli/
in an important way or to an important degree
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
most important element
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
mirthnounUS /mɜːrθ/
great merriment
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
a raised horizontal surface
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
preparatoryadjectiveUS /prɪˈperətɔːri/
preceding and preparing for something
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
puffverbUS /pʌf/
smoke and exhale strongly
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
resignedlyadverb
with resignation and acceptance; in a resigned manner
From this reading The Hawk shrugged his shoulders resignedly.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
From this reading The Hawk shrugged his shoulders resignedly.
shruggedverbUS /ʃrʌɡd/
inflected form of “shrug” — raise one's shoulders to indicate indifference or resignation
From this reading The Hawk shrugged his shoulders resignedly.
shunternoun
a small locomotive used to move cars around but not to make trips
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
a lightweight cord
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
superintendent'snounUS /ˌsuːpərɪnˈtendənts/
possessive form of “superintendent” — a person who directs and manages an organization
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
switchverbUS /swɪtʃ/
change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
switchernounUS /ˈswɪtʃər/
a person who administers punishment by wielding a switch or whip
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
carry out
From this reading The yard engine was backing down now to take the superintendent's car up to the main line, preparatory to running it back and coupling it to the string of coaches beside the station platform.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
except if; if not
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
wheezed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The game was up and he was too late, unless Dixer had been forced to defer his attempt until some time during the run that night, which was hardly likely.
winkedverbUS /wɪŋkt/
past form of “wink” — signal by winking
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The Hawk smiled in the darkness without mirth, as he lost sight of the little switcher on the other side of the private car.
a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The yard engine wheezed its way importantly up past the station, stopped, a switch light winked, changed colour, and the shunter began to puff its way back.
