Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
actual
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
althoughnounUS /ˈalthough/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
away
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
back
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
ballast
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
become
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
blazing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
breakable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
breaking
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
brokennounUS /broken/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
burning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
came
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
carriage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
carriages
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
closely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
collision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
confusion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
consumed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
coupling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
couplings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
crashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
dashed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
devised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
direct
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
dragged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
débris
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
efforts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
encounter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
engine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
entangled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
extinguishing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
eye
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
fallen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
farther
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
flames
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
forced
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
forcing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
foremostnounUS /ˈforemost/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
foundnounUS /found/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
frantically
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
fruitless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
guard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
highly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
indescribableadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈskraɪbəbəl/
too intense to describe too intense or unusual to describe clearly
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
irons
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
less
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
male
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
means
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
moment
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
more
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
navvies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
nearest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
nextnounUS /next/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
noticed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
others
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
overturned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
passengers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
probable
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
quick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
scene
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
second
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
seemednounUS /seemed/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
senseless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
separate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
shock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
side
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
stirred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
there
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
tooknounUS /took/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
train
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
truck
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
trucks
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
trying
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
twenty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
unhappy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
up
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The next carriage had been forced upon the second truck, and the others more or less upon those nearest them, as they were farther from the actual collision.
van
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
violently
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
volunteers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
whole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
willing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unhappy guard had been dragged senseless from the _débris_; there was, therefore, no one to direct the willing but fruitless efforts of the volunteers.
Wilton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton found an indescribable scene of confusion when he came up to the overturned engine.
Wilton's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Wilton's quick eye took in the difficulty in a moment, and noticed that the blazing van, having been the first to encounter the shock, had fallen on the side away from the ballast train, breaking the couplings and everything breakable as it crashed over.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The male passengers and some twenty navvies, who had been with the ballast train, were trying frantically to separate the burning carriages from the others by forcing them back; but, although the coupling irons were broken, the foremost carriages had been so violently dashed against the trucks that they had become too closely entangled to be stirred, and it seemed highly probable that the whole train would be consumed before any means could be devised for extinguishing the flames.
