used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HENRY BECOMES A MERCHANT.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
aldermannounUS /ˈɔːldərmən/
a member of a municipal legislative body (as a city council)
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
assortedadjectiveUS /əˈsɔːrtɪd/
consisting of a haphazard assortment of different kinds
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
awaitingverbUS /əˈweɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading HENRY BECOMES A MERCHANT.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
past form of “belong” — be owned by; be in the possession of
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
cargoesnounUS /ˈkɑːrɡoʊz/
plural of “cargo” — goods carried by a large vehicle
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
citizennounUS /ˈsɪtəzən/
a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
claimsnounUS /kleɪmz/
plural of “claim” — an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
deservedlyadverbUS /dɪˈzɜːrvədli/
as deserved
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
dispatchedverbUS /dɪˈspætʃt/
past form of “dispatch” — send away towards a designated goal
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
employverbUS /emˈplɔɪ/
put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
marked by firm determination or resolution; not shakable
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
HamiltonnounUS /ˈhæməltən/
Irish mathematician (1806-1865)
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
HavananounUS /həˈvænə/
the capital and largest city of Cuba; located in western Cuba; one of the oldest cities in the Americas
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
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 BECOMES A MERCHANT.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
impatientlyadverbUS /ˌɪmˈpeɪʃəntli/
with impatience; in an impatient manner
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
imperativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈperətɪv/
requiring attention or action
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
investmentnounUS /ˌɪnˈvestmənt/
the act of investing; laying out money or capital in an enterprise with the expectation of profit
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
a Stuart king of Scotland who married a daughter of Henry VII; when England and France went to war in 1513 he invaded England and died in defeat at Flodden (1473-1513)
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
lotterynounUS /ˈlɑːtəri/
something that is regarded as a chance event
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
mayornounUS /ˈmeɪər/
the head of a city government
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
mercantileadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrkəntaɪl/
of or relating to the economic system of mercantilism
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.
From this reading HENRY BECOMES A MERCHANT.
characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
nominationnounUS /ˌnɑːməˈneɪʃən/
the act of officially naming a candidate
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
and nothing more
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
the local environment
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
an organization to gain political power
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading He had served his native city as an alderman, and had been offered the nomination for mayor by the party to which he belonged, but had declined, on account of the imperative claims of his private business.
shippingnounUS /ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
the commercial enterprise of moving goods and materials
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
vesselsnounUS /ˈvesəlz/
plural of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While Sam was impatiently awaiting the drawing of the Havana lottery, Henry; too, made an investment, but of an entirely different character.
which person or people
From this reading The head of the firm was James Hamilton, a man who stood deservedly high, not only in the mercantile world, but as a citizen.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading He was in the employ of a shipping house, which dispatched vessels to different parts of the world with assorted cargoes.
