adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
backadverbUS /bæk/
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
CanadanounUS /ˈkænədə/
a nation in northern North America; the French were the first Europeans to settle in mainland Canada
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
civiladjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəl/
applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
degreenounUS /dɪˈɡriː/
a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
DetroitnounUS /dɪˈtrɔɪt/
the largest city in Michigan and a major Great Lakes port; center of the United States automobile industry; located in southeastern Michigan on the Detroit river across from Windsor
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
efficiencynounUS /ɪˈfɪʃənsi/
the ratio of the output to the input of any system
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
engineeringnounUS /ˈendʒəˈnɪrɪŋ/
the practical application of technical and scientific knowledge to commerce or industry
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
exceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
faithfuladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪθfəl/
steadfast in affection or allegiance
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
finallyadverbUS /ˈfaɪnəli/
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
finishedadjectiveUS /ˈfɪnɪʃt/
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
forthadverbUS /fɔːrθ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
goneadjectiveUS /ɡɔːn/
destroyed or killed
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
hardadjectiveUS /hɑːrd/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
impressionnounUS /ˌɪmˈpreʃən/
a vague idea in which some confidence is placed
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
Isabelle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
jobnounUS /dʒɑːb/
the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
Johnstons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/
set down according to a plan
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
layverbUS /leɪ/
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
MontananounUS /mɑːnˈtænə/
a state in northwestern United States on the Canadian border
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
phrasedverbUS /freɪzd/
past form of “phrase” — put into words or an expression
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
ploddingnounUS /ˈplɑːdɪŋ/
hard monotonous routine work
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
StatesnounUS /steɪts/
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
studentnounUS /ˈstuːdənt/
a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
superiorsnounUS /suːˈpɪriərz/
plural of “superior” — one of greater rank or station or quality
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
technicaladjectiveUS /ˈteknɪkəl/
of or relating to technique or proficiency in a practical skill
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He drifted into Canada, then back to the States, and finally found a place in Detroit.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
tongue-tiedadjective
unable to express yourself clearly or fluently
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
tracknounUS /træk/
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was heavy and rather tongue-tied, and made no impression on his superiors except that of commonplace efficiency.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading He laid it well; but this job finished, there seemed no permanent place for him.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading He had been a faithful, somewhat dull and plodding student at the technical school, where he took the civil engineering degree, and had gone forth to lay track in Montana.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Steve Johnstons had had a hard time, as Isabelle would have phrased it.
