used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
be able to spare or give up
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
arithmeticnounUS /ˌerɪθˈmetɪk/
the branch of pure mathematics dealing with the theory of numerical calculations
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
BenjaminnounUS /ˈbendʒəmən/
gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
Brownwell's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
CANDLESnounUS /ˈkændəlz/
plural of “candle” — stick of wax with a wick in the middle
From this reading MAKING CANDLES.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
father'snounUS /ˈfɑːðərz/
possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
fluentlyadverbUS /ˈfluːəntli/
in a fluent manner
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
the act of departing
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
past form of “inquire” — address a question to and expect an answer from
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
limitedadjectiveUS /ˈlɪmətəd/
small in range or scope
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
for more time
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading MAKING CANDLES.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
replyingverbUS /rɪˈplaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “reply” — react verbally
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
an educational institution
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
do one's shopping
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
precisely as stated
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
at the time that
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
produce a literary work
From this reading He could write a very good hand, and read fluently, though his knowledge of arithmetic was very limited indeed.
Yankee-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Am I not going to Mr. Brownwell's school any longer?" he asked, instead of replying to his father's question,--a Yankee-like way of doing things, truly.
a late time of life
From this reading When Benjamin was ten years old he had acquired all the education his father thought he could afford to give him.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you about ready, Benjamin, to come into the shop and help me?" inquired his father, at the dinner table.
