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Sister Carrie: A Novel
Sister Carrie: A Novel

Chapter XXXV · The Strike

Cover illustration for Sister Carrie: A Novel
Context Illustration Reading 1/99 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.
There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.
They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.
Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.
A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
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A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Sister Carrie: A Novel

Chapter XXXV · The Strike

Reading 1/99 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.
Line 2
There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.
Line 3
They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.
Line 4
Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.
Line 5
A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.”

Around preposition US /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.”

Being auxiliary verb US /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading “The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.”

Hands plural noun US /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading “There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.”

Looked noun US /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.”

Through noun US /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading “Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.”

Went noun US /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.”

All words in this reading · 70

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 There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

air

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

applied

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

aroundprepositionUS /ərˈaʊnd/

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

back

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

barn

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

barns

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

butconjunctionUS /bʌt/

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

cars

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

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

desperate

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

diffidence

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

directors

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

driven

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

eachdeterminerUS /iːtʃ/

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

enclosed

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

exceedingly

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

green

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

half-dozen

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

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

handsplural nounUS /hændz/

members of a ship’s crew

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

hang-dog

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

hungry-looking

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

Hurstwood

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

instructors

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

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

large

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

lever

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

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

lively

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

lookednounUS /looked/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

loops

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

lot

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

manned

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

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

means

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

men

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

operated

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

out

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

place

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

practically

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

pupil

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

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.

queer

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

series

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

short-handed

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

There

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

three

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

throughnounUS /ˈthrough/

a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

tracks

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

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

tried

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

want

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

wentnounUS /went/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

whereconjunctionUS /wer/

in or at the place that

From this reading Hurstwood went back through the barns and out into a large, enclosed lot, where were a series of tracks and loops.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The barn at which Hurstwood applied was exceedingly short-handed, and was being operated practically by three men as directors.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading There were a lot of green hands around—queer, hungry-looking men, who looked as if want had driven them to desperate means.

willing

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

From this reading They tried to be lively and willing, but there was an air of hang-dog diffidence about the place.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading A half-dozen cars were there, manned by instructors, each with a pupil at the lever.