🔊 "I sort out travelers, in bundles of a thousand," said the switchman.

"I organize travelers, in groups of a thousand," said the switchman.

🔊

sort out /sɔːt aʊt/

phr. v. to organize or arrange things into groups; to separate one type of thing from another

🔊

bundles /ˈbʌndlz/

n. collections of things tied or wrapped together; groups of things considered as a unit

🔊

switchman /ˈswɪtʃmən/

n. a railway worker who operates switches to change trains from one track to another

🔊 And a brilliantly lighted express train shook the switchman's cabin as it rushed by.

And a brightly lit fast train shook the switchman's small house as it raced past.

🔊

brilliantly /ˈbrɪliəntli/

adv. in a way that is very bright, shining, or impressive

🔊

express train /ɪkˈspres treɪn/

n. a fast train that stops at only a few major stations

🔊

cabin /ˈkæbɪn/

n. a small, simple house or shelter; a private room on a ship or a small compartment for the driver of a vehicle

🔊 "Not even the locomotive engineer knows that," said the switchman.

"Not even the train driver knows that," said the switchman.

🔊

locomotive engineer /ˌləʊkəˈməʊtɪv ˌendʒɪˈnɪə(r)/

n. the person who drives and operates a train engine

🔊 And a second brilliantly lighted express thundered by, in the opposite direction.

And a second brightly lit fast train roared by, going the other way.

🔊

thundered /ˈθʌndəd/

v. moved or passed with a loud, deep, rumbling sound like thunder

🔊 "These are not the same ones," said the switchman. "It is an exchange."

"These are not the same people," said the switchman. "It is a swap."

🔊

exchange /ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ/

n. an act of giving one thing and receiving another in return; a place where things are traded

🔊 "No one is ever satisfied where he is," said the switchman.

"No one is ever happy where they are," said the switchman.

🔊

satisfied /ˈsætɪsfaɪd/

adj. pleased because you have achieved something or because something has happened as you wanted

🔊 And they heard the roaring thunder of a third brilliantly lighted express.

And they heard the loud roar of a third brightly lit fast train.

🔊

roaring /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/

adj. making a loud, deep, continuous sound

🔊 "They are pursuing nothing at all," said the switchman. "They are asleep in there, or if they are not asleep they are yawning. Only the children are flattening their noses against the windowpanes."

"They are chasing nothing at all," said the switchman. "They are sleeping in there, or if they are not sleeping they are yawning. Only the children are pressing their noses against the windows."

🔊

pursuing /pəˈsjuːɪŋ/

v. following or chasing someone or something in order to catch them; trying to achieve a goal

🔊

yawning /ˈjɔːnɪŋ/

v. opening the mouth wide and taking a deep breath, usually when tired or bored

🔊

flattening /ˈflætnɪŋ/

v. making something become flat or press something against a surface

🔊

windowpanes /ˈwɪndəʊpeɪnz/

n. the sheets of glass in a window

🔊 "Only the children know what they are looking for," said the little prince. "They waste their time over a rag doll and it becomes very important to them."

"Only the children know what they are looking for," said the little prince. "They spend their time on a rag doll and it becomes very important to them."

🔊

waste /weɪst/

v. to use or spend something carelessly or without a good purpose

🔊

rag doll /ræɡ dɒl/

n. a soft doll made from pieces of cloth

🔊 "They are lucky," the switchman said.

"They are lucky," the switchman said.

Chapter XXII