Chapter X

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

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

later than; following

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

(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 After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

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

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

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

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

plural of “artist” — a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

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

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

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

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

past form of “board” — get on board of (trains, buses, ships, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

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

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading They had entertained him, they had helped him to pass a pleasant hour, and that was all.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

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

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

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

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading They had entertained him, they had helped him to pass a pleasant hour, and that was all.

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

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

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

From this reading They had entertained him, they had helped him to pass a pleasant hour, and that was all.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading They had entertained him, they had helped him to pass a pleasant hour, and that was all.

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

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

having or showing interest; especially curiosity or fascination or concern

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

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

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

a depository for collecting and displaying objects having scientific or historical or artistic value

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

plural of “painting” — graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

go across or through

From this reading They had entertained him, they had helped him to pass a pleasant hour, and that was all.

-ing form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

participate in games or sport

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading They had entertained him, they had helped him to pass a pleasant hour, and that was all.

the activity of designing and constructing and operating railroads

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

(especially of incident sound or light) bent or sent back

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

precisely, exactly

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

statues collectively

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

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

From this reading They had entertained him, they had helped him to pass a pleasant hour, and that was all.

painstakingly careful and accurate

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

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

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

urgently needed; absolutely necessary

From this reading He did not feel that they were vital to him—vital in the sense that a thorough knowledge of railroading was.

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

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.

in the company of; together with

From this reading After all, he reflected, Betty Heywood was right—train-dispatching had little to do with art and artists.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading IN THE SWITCH TOWER WITHOUT pausing at the museum, Allan boarded a car back to the city.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading He realized that he had looked at the paintings and the statuary from the outside, as it were; he had been interested in them, it is true, as he would have been interested in a play or a novel.