used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
centnounUS /sent/
a fractional monetary unit of several countries
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
contractedadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntræktəd/
reduced in size or pulled together
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
debtsnounUS /dets/
plural of “debt” — the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
owed and payable immediately or on demand
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
at any time
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
United States labor leader (born in Ireland) who helped to found the Industrial Workers of the World (1830-1930)
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
used with “to” to say what is right or advisable
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
PARTNERSHIPnounUS /ˈpɑːrtnərʃɪp/
the members of a business venture created by contract
From this reading AN OFFER OF PARTNERSHIP.
responsibleadjectiveUS /riˈspɑːnsəbəl/
worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
Silas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
a male human offspring
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading He wanted every cent that was due him and more too, if he could get it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This was the first time David had ever heard that a son could be held responsible for debts contracted by his father.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At first he did not believe it; but Silas seemed to think it could be done, and he was a business man and ought to know what he was talking about.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The truth of the matter was, that Silas Jones was a hard one to deal with.
