used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
in the past
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
assentnounUS /əˈsent/
agreement with a statement or proposal to do something
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
biddernounUS /ˈbɪdər/
someone who makes an offer
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
brutalitynounUS /bruːˈtæləti/
the trait of extreme cruelty
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
centsnounUS /sents/
plural of “cent” — a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
confinementnounUS /kənˈfaɪnmənt/
concluding state of pregnancy; from the onset of contractions to the birth of a child
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
CONTRACTverbUS /ˈkɑːntrækt/
enter into a contractual arrangement
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
contractornounUS /ˈkɑːntræktər/
someone (a person or firm) who contracts to build things
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
dehumanizingverbUS /diˈhjuːmənaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “dehumanize” — deprive of human qualities
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
fifty-fiveadjective
being five more than fifty
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
set up or found
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
institutionsnounUS /ˌɪnstɪˈtuːʃənz/
plural of “institution” — an organization founded and united for a specific purpose
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
intricateadjectiveUS /ˈɪntrəkət/
having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
leasingverbUS /ˈliːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “lease” — let for money
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
the force of workers available
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
used to form the superlative
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
and nothing more
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
marked by the reception of pay
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
penaladjectiveUS /ˈpiːnəl/
of or relating to punishment
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
for each
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
an amount of time
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
slavishadjectiveUS /ˈsleɪvɪʃ/
blindly imitative
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
solutionnounUS /səˈluːʃən/
a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances; frequently (but not necessarily) a liquid solution
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
the place where something begins, where it springs into being
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading It was an easy solution to an intricate problem, and the State, looking only at the present, gave its assent to the method.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
a quantity of money
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
in or at the place that
From this reading In the prison where I was, the contractor paid the large sum of fifty-five cents for the labor of each man per day.
in the company of; together with
From this reading CONTRACT LABOR The question of what to do with the prisoner during the period of his confinement has always been a difficult one.
actively engaged in paid work
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
workingsnounUS /ˈwɜːrkɪŋz/
the internal mechanism of a device
From this reading It is a system particularly slavish in its workings, dehumanizing to the men working under it, and the source of most of the brutality found in penal institutions.
a late time of life
From this reading The system of leasing the labor of the prisoner to the highest bidder, up to a few years ago, was common in the different States.
