used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
react verbally
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
bootblacknoun
a person who polishes shoes and boots
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
butlernounUS /ˈbʌtlər/
a manservant (usually the head servant of a household) who has charge of wines and the table
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
coachmannounUS /ˈkoʊtʃmən/
a man who drives a coach (or carriage)
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
accepted or habitual practice
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
of concern to or concerning the internal affairs of a nation
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
emphaticadjectiveUS /emˈfætɪk/
spoken with emphasis
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
employmentnounUS /emˈplɔɪmənt/
the state of being employed or having a job
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
footmannounUS /ˈfʊtmən/
a man employed as a servant in a large establishment (as a palace) to run errands and do chores
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
HARRISnounUS /ˈherɪs/
United States author who wrote the stories about Uncle Remus (1848-1908)
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
hotelsnounUS /hoʊˈtelz/
plural of “hotel” — a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
hypocritesnounUS /ˈhɪpəkrɪts/
plural of “hypocrite” — a person who professes beliefs and opinions that he or she does not hold in order to conceal his or her real feelings or motives
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
liarsnounUS /ˈlaɪərz/
plural of “liar” — a person who has lied or who lies repeatedly
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
LowellnounUS /ˈloʊəl/
United States poet (1917-1977)
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
negronounUS /ˈniːɡroʊ/
a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
and nothing more
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
pensionernounUS /ˈpenʃənər/
the beneficiary of a pension fund
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
porternounUS /ˈpɔːrtər/
a person employed to carry luggage and supplies
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
refusalnounUS /rəˈfjuːzəl/
the act of refusing
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
resignationnounUS /ˌrezəɡˈneɪʃən/
acceptance of despair
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
resignedverbUS /rɪˈzaɪnd/
past form of “resign” — leave (a job, post, or position) voluntarily
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
restaurantsnounUS /ˈrestərɑːnts/
plural of “restaurant” — a building where people go to eat
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
Identical; not different.
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
sealedadjectiveUS /siːld/
established irrevocably
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
second-rateadjective
moderate to inferior in quality
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
work done by one person or group that benefits another
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading And then began his weary tramp in search of work.
a special situation
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
trampnounUS /træmp/
a vagrant
From this reading And then began his weary tramp in search of work.
waiternounUS /ˈweɪtər/
a person whose occupation is to serve at table (as in a restaurant)
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The only thing open to a negro was a position as porter, or bootblack, or waiter in second-rate hotels and restaurants, or in domestic service as coachman, butler or footman.
exhaust or get tired through overuse or great strain or stress
From this reading And then began his weary tramp in search of work.
any period of seven consecutive days
From this reading Day after day, week after week, he got the same answer--an emphatic refusal.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading HARRIS immediately resigned his office in the custom house which he owed to Lowell and began a search for employment.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading “I will not be a pensioner of a government of hypocrites and liars,” he exclaimed as he sealed his letter of resignation.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading And then began his weary tramp in search of work.
