adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
appearedverbUS /əˈpɪrd/
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
bankingnounUS /ˈbæŋkɪŋ/
engaging in the business of keeping money for savings and checking accounts or for exchange or for issuing loans and credit etc.
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
belongedverbUS /bɪˈlɔːŋd/
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
BurgessnounUS /ˈbɜːrdʒəs/
English writer of satirical novels (1917-1993)
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
CaptainnounUS /ˈkæptən/
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
chain-gang
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
clerknounUS /klɜːrk/
an employee who performs clerical work (e.g., keeps records or accounts)
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
CommandantnounUS /ˌkɑːmənˈdɑːnt/
an officer in command of a military unit
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
consideredadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərd/
carefully weighed
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
DawesnounUS /dɔːz/
American patriot who rode with Paul Revere to warn that the British were advancing on Lexington and Concord (1745-1799)
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
delicateadjectiveUS /ˈdeləkət/
exquisitely fine and subtle and pleasing; susceptible to injury
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
doubtsnounUS /daʊts/
plural of “doubt” — the state of being unsure of something
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
educatedadjectiveUS /ˈedʒəkeɪtɪd/
possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge)
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
embezzlementnounUS /emˈbezəlmənt/
the fraudulent appropriation of funds or property entrusted to your care but actually owned by someone else
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
employedadjectiveUS /emˈplɔɪd/
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
entertainedadjectiveUS /ˌentərˈteɪnd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
fairadjectiveUS /fer/
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
fatenounUS /feɪt/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
fortnightnounUS /ˈfɔːrtnaɪt/
a period of fourteen consecutive days
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
gravenounUS /ɡreɪv/
death of a person
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
guiltnounUS /ɡɪlt/
the state of having committed an offense
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
Kirkland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
luckyadjectiveUS /ˈlʌki/
occurring by chance
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
nameverbUS /neɪm/
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
new-comer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The Commandant, Captain Burgess, had employed him as butler in his own house, and his fate was considered a “lucky” one.
prisonersnounUS /ˈprɪzənərz/
plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
Rufus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
thinadjectiveUS /θɪn/
Having little thickness or extent.
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
transportedverbUS /trænˈspɔːrtɪd/
past form of “transport” — move something or somebody around; usually over long distances
From this reading He had been a clerk in a banking house, and was transported for embezzlement, though, by some, grave doubts as to his guilt were entertained.
twentynounUS /ˈtwenti/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading His name was Kirkland, and he belonged to what were known as the “educated” prisoners.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Rufus Dawes had been a fortnight at the settlement when a new-comer appeared on the chain-gang.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading This was a young man of about twenty years of age, thin, fair, and delicate.
