Chapter II

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

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

later than; following

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

(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 A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading Gee whiz!” and he laughed and slapped his leg.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

a railroad employee responsible for a train's brakes

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

go after with the intent to catch

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

without stop or interruption

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

a person who uses scientific knowledge to solve practical problems

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

divisible by two

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

devoid of good sense or judgment

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

a unit of force equal to the force exerted by gravity; used to indicate the force to which a body is subjected when it is accelerated

From this reading Gee whiz!” and he laughed and slapped his leg.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading Gee whiz!” and he laughed and slapped his leg.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

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

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”

tell false information to for fun

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

plural of “kid” — a young person of either sex

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Gee whiz!” and he laughed and slapped his leg.

a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle

From this reading Gee whiz!” and he laughed and slapped his leg.

staying power

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

a particular point in time

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

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

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

above and across; more than

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

in a reminiscent manner

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand

From this reading Gee whiz!” and he laughed and slapped his leg.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

plural of “tickle” — a cutaneous sensation often resulting from light stroking

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”

the upper part of anything

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

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

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

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

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

a native or resident of Wales

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”

at the time that

From this reading A NEW EXPERIENCE “When I was a kid,” continued Welsh, reminiscently, after a moment, “I was foolish, like all other kids.

someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field

From this reading Gee whiz!” and he laughed and slapped his leg.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I made up my mind t’ be a brakeman, fer I thought all a brakeman had t’ do was t’ set out on top of a car, with his legs a-hangin’ over, an’ see th’ country, an’ wave his hat at th’ girls, an’ chase th’ boys off th’ platform, an’ order th’ engineer around by shakin’ his hand at him.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading I thought they wasn’t nothin’ in th’ world so much fun as railroadin’.

but in spite of that

From this reading “It tickles me even yet t’ think what an ijit I was!”