used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
commonly used or practiced; usual
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
BenjaminnounUS /ˈbendʒəmən/
gum resin used especially in treating skin irritation
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
CollinsnounUS /ˈkɑːlɪnz/
English writer noted for early detective novels (1824-1889)
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
differedverbUS /ˈdɪfərd/
past form of “differ” — be different
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
discussingverbUS /dɪˈskʌsɪŋ/
-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
disputationnounUS /dɪsˈpjuːˈteɪʃən/
the formal presentation of a stated proposition and the opposition to it (usually followed by a vote)
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
DISPUTEverbUS /dɪsˈpjuːt/
take exception to
From this reading THE DISPUTE.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
having or displaying warmth or affection
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
set up or found
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
many times at short intervals
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
the quality of being important and worthy of note
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
improveverbUS /ˌɪmˈpruːv/
to make better
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
intelligentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒənt/
having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
marked by close acquaintance, association, or familiarity
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
jestingadjective
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
to a small degree or extent
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
sprightlyadjectiveUS /ˈspraɪtli/
full of spirit and vitality
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
suitedadjectiveUS /ˈsuːtɪd/
meant or adapted for an occasion or use
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
an exchange of ideas via conversation
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DISPUTE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading They differed somewhat in their opinions upon various subjects, and frequently found themselves engaged in earnest disputation.
precisely as stated
From this reading He was intelligent, sprightly, and fond of books, so that he was a very agreeable companion.
warmlyadverbUS /ˈwɔːrmli/
in a hearty manner
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
at the time that
From this reading When other boys were accustomed to spend their time in foolish talking and jesting, Benjamin and John were warmly discussing some question of importance, well suited to improve the mind.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
a young person (especially a young man or boy)
From this reading Benjamin was intimate, at this time, with a youth by the name of John Collins.
