adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
actorsnounUS /ˈæktərz/
plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
adjustmentnounUS /əˈdʒʌstmənt/
making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
appropriationsnounUS /əˌproʊpriˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “appropriation” — money set aside (as by a legislature) for a specific purpose
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
audiencenounUS /ˈɑːdiəns/
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
BECAMEverbUS /bɪˈkeɪm/
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
BUSINESSnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
circumstancesnounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstænsəz/
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
closingnounUS /ˈkloʊzɪŋ/
the act of closing something
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
commentatorsnounUS /ˈkɑːmənteɪtərz/
plural of “commentator” — an expert who observes and comments on something
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
conceivedverbUS /kənˈsiːvd/
past form of “conceive” — have the idea for
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
CongressnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəs/
the legislature of the United States government
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
CongressesnounUS /ˈkɑːŋɡrəsɪz/
plural of “congress” — the legislature of the United States government
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
controlledadjectiveUS /kənˈtroʊld/
restrained or managed or kept within certain bounds
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
debtsnounUS /dets/
plural of “debt” — the state of owing something (especially money)
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
demandsnounUS /dɪˈmændz/
plural of “demand” — an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
dishonoredadjectiveUS /dɪˈsɑːnərd/
suffering shame
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
fraudsnounUS /frɔːdz/
plural of “fraud” — intentional deception resulting in injury to another person
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
hastenounUS /heɪst/
overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
honestadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnəst/
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
HOW
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
hurriedadjectiveUS /ˈhɜːrid/
moving rapidly or performed quickly or in great haste
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
ill-digested
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
impracticaladjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpræktəkəl/
not practical; not workable or not given to practical matters
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
inadequateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnædəkwət/
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
instantnounUS /ˈɪnstənt/
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
interestnounUS /ˈɪntrəst/
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
ITpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
keptadjectiveUS /kept/
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
laughedverbUS /læft/
past form of “laugh” — produce laughter
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
legislatorsnounUS /ˈledʒəsleɪtərz/
plural of “legislator” — someone who makes or enacts laws
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
long-sufferingnoun
patient endurance of pain or unhappiness
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
otherwiseadverbUS /ˈʌðərwaɪz/
in other respects or ways
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
precedingadjectiveUS /priˈsiːdɪŋ/
existing or coming before
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
PressverbUS /pres/
exert pressure or force to or upon
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
privateadjectiveUS /ˈpraɪvət/
confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
righteousadjectiveUS /ˈraɪtʃəs/
characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
rushedadjectiveUS /rʌʃt/
done under pressure
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
sameadjectiveUS /seɪm/
Identical; not different.
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
scenesnounUS /siːnz/
plural of “scene” — the place where some action occurs
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
sensenounUS /sens/
a general conscious awareness
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
shelvedverbUS /ʃelvd/
past form of “shelve” — hold back to a later time
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
sovereignadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːv.rən/
Possessing supreme or ultimate power; autonomous and commanding.
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading The actors, the legislators themselves, knew it, and laughed at it; the commentators, the Press, knew it and laughed at it; the audience, the great American people, knew it and laughed at it.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
toleratedverbUS /ˈtɑːləreɪtɪd/
past form of “tolerate” — put up with something or somebody unpleasant
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
unbusiness-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading And nobody for an instant conceived that it ever, under any circumstances, might be otherwise.
UNFINISHEDadjectiveUS /ənˈfɪnɪʃt/
not brought to the desired final state
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
unjustadjectiveUS /ənˈdʒʌst/
not fair; marked by injustice or partiality or deception
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
unlikeadjectiveUS /ənˈlaɪk/
marked by dissimilarity
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
unpaidadjectiveUS /ənˈpeɪd/
not paid
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
utterlyadverbUS /ˈʌtərli/
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
vileadjectiveUS /vaɪl/
morally reprehensible
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading HOW IT BECAME UNFINISHED BUSINESS The closing of the ---- Congress was not unlike the closing of the several preceding Congresses.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were frauds rushed through; there were long-suffering, righteous demands shelved; there were honest, unpaid debts dishonored by scant appropriations; there were closing scenes which only the saving sense of American humor kept from being utterly vile.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading There was the same unbusiness-like, impractical haste; the same hurried, unjust, and utterly inadequate adjustment of unfinished, ill-digested business, that would not have been tolerated for a moment by the sovereign people in any private interest they controlled.
