Chapter II

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

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

(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 And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

in addition

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

plural of “american” — a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

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

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

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

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

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

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

the state that exists when one person or group has power over another

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

being joined in close association

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

the power or right to give orders or make decisions

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

for a short time

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

serving as an essential component

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

-ing form of “choose” — pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

applying to ordinary citizens as contrasted with the military

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

plural of “community” — a group of people living in a particular local area

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

power to direct or determine

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

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

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

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

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

-ing form of “elect” — select by a vote for an office or membership

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

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

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

set up or found

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

to or in any or all places

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

well known or easily recognized

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

an organization formed by merging several groups or parties

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

being eight more than forty

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

inflected form of “fight” — be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

plural of “government” — the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

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

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

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

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

engage in

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

an insignificant place

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

a judge of a probate court

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

in an original manner

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

above and across; more than

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

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

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

plural of “policy” — a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

without much difficulty

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

get something; come into possession of

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

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

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

in or at that place or location

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

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

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

a special situation

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

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

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading And this they understood readily enough, for the notion of a federation of communities was familiar to them.

not important

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

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

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

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

From this reading I told them briefly of how originally there were North and South, and of the Civil War, which was fought to establish the ascendancy of the Federal Government, and I made it plain that that ascendancy had grown greater to this day and that the State Governments had become more and more unimportant.

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

From this reading I then explained to them as well as I could about the forty-eight States that make up the United States, making it plain that each State had its own government, but that there was also the Federal Government, which had authority everywhere.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading And I did not hide from them that the choosing of parties and policies for the central assembly became less and less a thing over which ordinary citizens had any control at all, and that nowhere else in the world did the members so chosen receive less respect or less truly represent the people electing them.

but in spite of that

From this reading ‘Yet,’ I said, ‘the Americans are extremely attached to their Central Government, far more than they are to the governments of their own States.’