Chapter II · Boyhood Days

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

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

(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 If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

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

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

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

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

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

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

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

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The “L” stood for nothing.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

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

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

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

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

the first letter of a word (especially a person's name)

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

immediately past

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The “L” stood for nothing.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

and nothing more

From this reading Most of the slaves had only one name.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Identical; not different.

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The “L” stood for nothing.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

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

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

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

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

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

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

male cat

From this reading If a man had been called “Tom” all his life, he was now called “Tom L. Johnson.”

under normal conditions

From this reading As free people they felt that they should have the same sort of names as other free people; so they began to add a last name, and usually an initial.

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

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

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

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.

at the time that

From this reading When the slaves were set free, one of the first things that many of them did was to change their names.