1863
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
actverbUS /ækt/
perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
ADAMSnounUS /ˈædəmz/
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
amusedadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzd/
pleasantly occupied
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
animalnounUS /ˈænəməl/
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
ApartadverbUS /əˈpɑːrt/
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
BATTLEnounUS /ˈbætəl/
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
casenounUS /keɪs/
an occurrence of something
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
creditedadjectiveUS /ˈkredətəd/
(usually followed by “to”) given credit for
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
diplomaticallyadverbUS /ˌdɪpləˈmætɪkli/
with diplomacy; in a diplomatic manner
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
drolladjectiveUS /droʊl/
comical in an odd or whimsical manner
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
EarlnounUS /ɜːrl/
a British peer ranking below a marquess and above a viscount
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
eitherdeterminerUS /ˈiːðər/
one or the other of two
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
enemynounUS /ˈenəmi/
an opposing military force
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
everythingpronounUS /ˈevriθɪŋ/
all things; all of a situation
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
falseadjectiveUS /fɔːls/
not in accordance with the fact or reality or actuality
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
ForeignadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrən/
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
gainverbUS /ɡeɪn/
obtain
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
greateradjectiveUS /ˈɡreɪtər/
greater in size or importance or degree
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
handnounUS /hænd/
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
HenrynounUS /ˈhenri/
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 Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
himselfpronounUS /hɪmˈself/
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
HisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
intelligencenounUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəns/
the ability to comprehend; to understand and profit from experience
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
JohnnounUS /dʒɑːn/
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
Legationnoun
the post or office of legate
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
likenessnounUS /ˈlaɪknəs/
similarity in appearance or character or nature between persons or things
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
loseverbUS /luːz/
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
makingnounUS /ˈmeɪkɪŋ/
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
matteredverbUS /ˈmætərd/
past form of “matter” — have weight; have import, carry weight
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
MINISTERnounUS /ˈmɪnəstər/
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
nervousadjectiveUS /ˈnɜːrvəs/
easily agitated
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
opponentsnounUS /əˈpoʊnənts/
plural of “opponent” — a contestant that you are matched against
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
personaladjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrsɪnəl/
concerning or affecting a particular person or his or her private life and personality
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
playedadjectiveUS /pleɪd/
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
QuincynounUS /ˈkwɪnsi/
American patriot who presented the colonists' grievances to the English king (1744-1775)
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
RAMSnounUS /ræmz/
plural of “ram” — the most common computer memory which can be used by programs to perform necessary tasks while the computer is on
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
relationnounUS /riˈleɪʃən/
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
RussellnounUS /ˈrʌsəl/
United States religious leader who founded the sect that is now called Jehovah's Witnesses (1852-1916)
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
sawverbUS /sɔː/
cut with a saw
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
SecretarynounUS /ˈsekrəteri/
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
seeingnounUS /ˈsiːɪŋ/
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
seldomadverbUS /ˈseldəm/
not often
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
shadowyadjectiveUS /ˈʃædoʊi/
filled with shade
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
sonnounUS /sʌn/
a male human offspring
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
sympathynounUS /ˈsɪmpəθi/
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
terrornounUS /ˈterər/
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
thoughconjunctionUS /ðoʊ/
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading His son, a nervous animal, made life a terror by seeing too much.
troubledadjectiveUS /ˈtrʌbəld/
characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
trueadjectiveUS /truː/
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
unitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE BATTLE OF THE RAMS (1863) MINISTER ADAMS troubled himself little about what he did not see of an enemy.
whetherconjunctionUS /ˈweðər/
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Apart from this shadowy personal relation, no doubt the Minister was diplomatically right; he had nothing to lose and everything to gain by making a friend of the Foreign Secretary, and whether Russell were true or false mattered less, because, in either case, the American Legation could act only as though he were false.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Minister Adams played his hand as it came, and seldom credited his opponents with greater intelligence than his own.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Earl Russell suited him; perhaps a certain personal sympathy united them; and indeed Henry Adams never saw Russell without being amused by his droll likeness to John Quincy Adams.
