1637
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
agedadjectiveUS /eɪdʒd/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
alphabetnounUS /ˈælfəbet/
a character set that includes letters and is used to write a language
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
answeredverbUS /ˈænsərd/
past form of “answer” — react verbally
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
askedverbUS /æskt/
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Was the chair placed in his school?” asked Charley.
aspectnounUS /ˈæspekt/
a distinct feature or element in a problem
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
AtprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
beardnounUS /bɪrd/
the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
bequeathedverbUS /bəˈkwiːθt/
past form of “bequeath” — leave or give by will after one's death
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
Charley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Was the chair placed in his school?” asked Charley.
CheevernounUS /ˈtʃiːvər/
United States writer of novels and short stories (1912-1982)
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
deathnounUS /deθ/
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
EzekielnounUS /ˈezɪkiːl/
a Hebrew prophet of the 6th century BC who was exiled to Babylon in 587 BC
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/
a man of refinement
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
governorsnounUS /ˈɡʌvərnərz/
plural of “governor” — the head of a state government
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
GrandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/
the father of your father or mother
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
grandfathersnounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðərz/
plural of “grandfather” — the father of your father or mother
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Was the chair placed in his school?” asked Charley.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
likeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
LondonnounUS /ˈlʌndən/
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
MassachusettsnounUS /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsəts/
a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
mennounUS /men/
the force of workers available
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
MrnounUS /ˈmɪstər/
a form of address for a man
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
personnounUS /ˈpɜːrsən/
a human being
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
Phips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
placedadjectiveUS /pleɪst/
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading “Was the chair placed in his school?” asked Charley.
proceededverbUS /prəˈsiːdɪd/
past form of “proceed” — continue talking
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
regardedverbUS /rɪˈɡɑːrdɪd/
past form of “regard” — deem to be
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
reverenceverbUS /ˈrevərəns/
regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
safelyadverbUS /ˈseɪfli/
with safety; in a safe manner
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
satnounUS /sæt/
the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
sayverbUS /seɪ/
express in words
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
schoolmasternounUS /ˈskuːlmæstər/
presiding officer of a school
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
SirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
taughtverbUS /tɔːt/
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
teachingnounUS /ˈtiːtʃɪŋ/
the profession of a teacher
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
venerableadjectiveUS /ˈvenərəbəl/
impressive by reason of age
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
whitenounUS /waɪt/
a Caucasian
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
whompronounUS /huːm/
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading This old gentleman came from London in 1637, and had been teaching school ever since; so that there were now aged men, grandfathers like myself, to whom Master Cheever had taught their alphabet.
William
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “At the death of Sir William Phips,” proceeded Grandfather, “our chair was bequeathed to Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, a famous schoolmaster in Boston.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
woreverbUS /wɔːr/
inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in
From this reading He was a person of venerable aspect, and wore a long white beard.”
YesnounUS /jes/
an affirmative
From this reading “Yes, in his school,” answered Grandfather; “and we may safely say that it had never before been regarded with such awful reverence,--no, not even when the old governors of Massachusetts sat in it.
