used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
on or to one side
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
availabilitynounUS /əˌveɪləˈbɪləti/
the quality of being at hand when needed
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
candidatenounUS /ˈkændədeɪt/
a politician who is running for public office
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
a person who is in charge
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
CongressionaladjectiveUS /kənˈɡreʃənəl/
of or relating to congress
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
controlledadjectiveUS /kənˈtroʊld/
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
conventionnounUS /kənˈvenʃən/
a large formal assembly
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
conventionsnounUS /kənˈvenʃənz/
plural of “convention” — a large formal assembly
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
declinedverbUS /dɪˈklaɪnd/
past form of “decline” — grow worse
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
delegateverbUS /ˈdeləɡeɪt/
transfer power to someone
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
electionnounUS /ɪˈlekʃən/
a vote to select the winner of a position or political office
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
having experience; having knowledge or skill from observation or participation
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
expiredadjectiveUS /ɪkˈspaɪrd/
having come to an end or become void after passage of a period of time
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
failingnounUS /ˈfeɪlɪŋ/
a flaw or weak point
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
a social unit living together
From this reading LINCOLN’S FAMILY.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
applying to all or most members of a category or group
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
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 He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
set down according to a plan
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
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 LINCOLN’S FAMILY.
MagistratenounUS /ˈmædʒəstreɪt/
a lay judge or civil authority who administers the law (especially one who conducts a court dealing with minor offenses)
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
a form of address for a man
From this reading MR.
nominatedadjectiveUS /ˈnɑːməneɪtəd/
appointed by nomination
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
and nothing more
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
preferredadjectiveUS /prəˈfɜːrd/
more desirable than another
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
PresidencynounUS /ˈprezədənsi/
the tenure of a president
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
re-election
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
having or caused by an irregular surface
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
statesmannounUS /ˈsteɪtsmən/
a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
TaylornounUS /ˈteɪlər/
United States composer and music critic (1885-1966)
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
a word or expression used for some particular thing
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
unquestionablyadverbUS /ənˈkwestʃənəbli/
without question
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
WebsternounUS /ˈwebstər/
English playwright (1580-1625)
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He was a delegate to the convention that nominated General Taylor for the Presidency, and did what he could to bring about his election.
at the time that
From this reading When Mr. Lincoln’s first Congressional term expired, he declined to be a candidate for re-election.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
which person or people
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He would have preferred Henry Clay, who was unquestionably far more fit for the position of Chief Magistrate, being an experienced statesman, while Taylor was only a rough soldier; but availability then, as now, controlled the choice of conventions, and Clay was laid aside, failing, like Webster, to reach the Presidency.
