adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
activeadjectiveUS /ˈæktɪv/
tending to become more severe or wider in scope
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
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 first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
begunverbUS /bɪˈɡʌn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
BostonnounUS /ˈbɑːstən/
state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
chairnounUS /tʃer/
a seat for one person, with a support for the back
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
contraryadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːntreri/
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
currencynounUS /ˈkɜːrənsi/
the metal or paper medium of exchange that is presently used
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
equalled
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
everadverbUS /ˈevər/
at any time
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
governornounUS /ˈɡʌvərnər/
the head of a state government
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
GrandfathernounUS /ˈɡrændfɑːðər/
the father of your father or mother
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
hardlyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrdli/
only a very short time before
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
heavyadjectiveUS /ˈhevi/
of comparatively great physical weight or density
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
lawnounUS /lɔː/
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
law-books
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
lawyernounUS /ˈlɔːjər/
a professional person authorized to practice law; conducts lawsuits or gives legal advice
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
MassachusettsnounUS /ˌmæsəˈtʃuːsəts/
a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
morningnounUS /ˈmɔːrnɪŋ/
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
Phips
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
practiseverbUS /ˈpræktɪs/
engage in a rehearsal
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
regulateverbUS /ˈreɡjəleɪt/
fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
SHIRLEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
SirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading Even Sir William Phips hardly equalled him.
sitverbUS /sɪt/
be seated
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
spentadjectiveUS /spent/
depleted of energy, force, or strength
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
tillprepositionUS /tɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
tryingadjectiveUS /ˈtraɪɪŋ/
hard to endure
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
usedadjectiveUS /juːzd/
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading On the contrary, he was as stirring and active a governor as Massachusetts ever had.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
WILLIAM
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
yearnounUS /jɪr/
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading The first year or two of his administration was spent in trying to regulate the currency.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading “WILLIAM SHIRLEY,” said Grandfather, “had come from England a few years before, and begun to practise law in Boston.
YoupronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading You will think, perhaps, that, as he had been a lawyer, the new governor used to sit in our great chair reading heavy law-books from morning till night.
