used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
Abe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
AbrahamnounUS /ˈeɪbrəhæm/
the first of the Old Testament patriarchs and the father of Isaac; according to Genesis, God promised to give Abraham's family (the Hebrews) the land of Canaan (the Promised Land); God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his son
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
airsnounUS /erz/
affected manners intended to impress others
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
a cherished desire
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
on or to one side
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
barefootedadjective
without shoes
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
for the reason that
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
boyhoodnounUS /ˈbɔɪhʊd/
the childhood of a boy
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
complacentadjectiveUS /kəmˈpleɪsənt/
contented to a fault with oneself or one's actions
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
CONGRESSnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading THE RAIL-SPLITTER ENTERS CONGRESS.
carefully weighed
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
without doubt; certainly
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
elevationnounUS /ˌeləˈveɪʃən/
the event of something being raised upward
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
emergedverbUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒd/
past form of “emerge” — come out into view, as from concealment
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
ENTERSverbUS /ˈentərz/
third-person singular of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading THE RAIL-SPLITTER ENTERS CONGRESS.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
set up or found
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
journeyings
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
a boy or man
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
Lincoln'snounUS /ˈlɪŋkənz/
possessive form of “lincoln” — 16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
painsnounUS /peɪnz/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
pooreradjectiveUS /ˈpuːrər/
comparative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
professionaladjectiveUS /prəˈfeʃənəl/
engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
prosperousadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːspərəs/
in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
raggedadjectiveUS /ˈræɡəd/
being or dressed in clothes that are worn or torn
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
RAIL-SPLITTERnoun
a laborer who splits logs to build split-rail fences
From this reading THE RAIL-SPLITTER ENTERS CONGRESS.
raw-boned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
mutual dealings or connections or communications among persons or groups
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
express in words
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading Abraham Lincoln’s professional success did not fill the measure of his ambition.
surroundingsnounUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋz/
the environmental condition
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
carry out
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE RAIL-SPLITTER ENTERS CONGRESS.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
directed up
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
at the time that
From this reading It certainly was a great step upward from the raw-boned, ragged, barefooted lad to the prosperous lawyer, and our hero, if I may so call him, doubtless felt complacent when he considered the change in his position and surroundings.
at any time that; every time that
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Whenever in his journeyings he found himself near the residence of any of his poorer relations, he took special pains to visit them, and, if possible, to stay with them.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading I may take occasion to say here that Abe--to return to the name which he did not wholly lay aside when he emerged from boyhood and youth--never put on airs because of his elevation, nor looked down upon the humble relatives whom he had left behind.
