adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
ApprenticesnounUS /əˈprentəsɪz/
plural of “apprentice” — works for an expert to learn a trade
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
besidesprepositionUS /bɪˈsaɪdz/
in addition to; as well as
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
boysnounUS /bɔɪz/
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
containsverbUS /kənˈteɪnz/
third-person singular of “contain” — include or contain; have as a component
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
DicknounUS /dɪk/
someone who is a detective
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
employedadjectiveUS /emˈplɔɪd/
having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
excelverbUS /ɪkˈsel/
distinguish oneself
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
Fosdick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
fourteennounUS /ˈfɔːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
gladadjectiveUS /ɡlæd/
showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
HenrynounUS /ˈhenri/
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
instructverbUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkt/
impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
instructiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktɪv/
serving to instruct or enlighten or inform
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
LESSONnounUS /ˈlesən/
a unit of instruction
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
LibrarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
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 Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
MechanicsnounUS /məˈkænɪks/
the branch of physics concerned with the motion of bodies in a frame of reference
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
officenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
printedverbUS /ˈprɪntɪd/
past form of “print” — put into print
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
printernounUS /ˈprɪntər/
someone whose occupation is printing
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
qualifiedadjectiveUS /ˈkwɑːləfaɪd/
meeting the proper standards and requirements and training for an office or position or task
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
sheetsnounUS /ʃiːts/
plural of “sheet” — any broad thin expanse or surface
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
studiousadjectiveUS /ˈstuːdiəs/
marked by care and effort
From this reading He had always been studious and ambitious to excel.
subscribernounUS /səbˈskraɪbər/
someone who expresses strong approval
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
thousandsnounUS /ˈθaʊzəndz/
plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
tutorverbUS /ˈtuːtər/
be a tutor to someone; give individual instruction
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
twelvenounUS /twelv/
the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
well-selected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr. Fosdick had been, besides, a subscriber to the Mechanics’ Apprentices’ Library, which contains many thousands of well-selected and instructive books.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His father, being a printer, employed in an office where books were printed, often brought home new books in sheets, which Henry was always glad to read.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Henry Fosdick, though only twelve years old, knew as much as many boys of fourteen.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading THE FIRST LESSON Fortunately for Dick, his young tutor was well qualified to instruct him.
