used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
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 If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
administrationnounUS /ædˌmɪnɪˈstreɪʃən/
a method of tending to or managing the affairs of a some group of people (especially the group's business affairs)
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
for the reason that
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
one who is the object of choice; who is given preference
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
divisionnounUS /dɪˈvɪʒən/
an army unit large enough to sustain combat
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
electedadjectiveUS /ɪˈlektəd/
subject to popular election
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
electionnounUS /ɪˈlekʃən/
a vote to select the winner of a position or political office
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
apart from; not including
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
flukenounUS /fluːk/
a stroke of luck
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
GulfnounUS /ɡʌlf/
an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
go away from a place
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
LincolnnounUS /ˈlɪŋkən/
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 If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
minoritynounUS /maɪˈnɔːrəti/
a group of people who differ racially or politically from a larger group of which it is a part
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
a particular point in time
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
oppositionnounUS /ˌɑːpəˈzɪʃən/
the action of opposing something that you disapprove or disagree with
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
powerlessadjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərləs/
lacking power
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
an executive officer of a firm or corporation
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
representativesnounUS /ˌreprəˈzentətɪvz/
plural of “representative” — a person who represents others
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
ruledadjectiveUS /ruːld/
subject to a ruling authority
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
SlaverynounUS /ˈsleɪvəri/
the state of being under the control of another person
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
theirspronounUS /ðerz/
the one or ones belonging to them
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
ticketsnounUS /ˈtɪkəts/
plural of “ticket” — a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment)
From this reading The President had been elected on a fluke because of the division of the opposition into three tickets.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
the act of using
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
vetoverbUS /ˈviːtoʊ/
vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
plural of “view” — a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lincoln was a minority President and was powerless except in the use of the veto.
the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading If the Gulf States had paused for a moment they could have seen that such an administration, whatever its views about Slavery, would have failed, and the next election would have been theirs.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The new administration could have done nothing with the Congress chosen.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If reason had ruled, the Gulf States of the South would never have ordered their representatives to leave Washington on the election of Abraham Lincoln.
