used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
adaptedadjectiveUS /əˈdæptɪd/
changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
AlongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
associationnounUS /əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən/
a formal organization of people or groups of people
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
a container that is usually woven and has handles
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
a degree on the centigrade scale of temperature
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
cellarnounUS /ˈselər/
the lowermost portion of a structure partly or wholly below ground level; often used for storage
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
centernounUS /ˈsɛn.tər/
The middle point or core of an area.
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
centraladjectiveUS /ˈsentrəl/
serving as an essential component
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
changesnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
consistingverbUS /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
DEPARTMENTnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
a line leading to a place or point
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
increase twofold
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
educationaladjectiveUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃənəl/
relating to the process of education
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
being one more than seven
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
one or the other of two
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
entertainmentsnounUS /ˌentərˈteɪnmənts/
plural of “entertainment” — an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
very good; of the highest quality
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
extensiveadjectiveUS /ɪkˈstensɪv/
large in spatial extent or range or scope or quantity
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
with resolute determination
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
gymnasiumnounUS /dʒɪmˈneɪziəm/
a school for students intermediate between elementary school and college; usually grades 9 to 12
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
plural of “lad” — a boy or man
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
lecturesnounUS /ˈlektʃərz/
plural of “lecture” — a speech that is open to the public
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
in such a manner as could not be otherwise
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
ORGANIZINGverbUS /ˈɔːrɡənaɪzɪŋ/
-ing form of “organize” — create (as an entity)
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
parlornounUS /ˈpɑːrlər/
reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
one of four equal parts
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
residencenounUS /ˈrezɪdəns/
any address at which you dwell more than temporarily
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
having great beauty and splendor
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
substantialadjectiveUS /səbˈstænʃəl/
of considerable importance, size, or worth
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/
understood in a certain way; made sense of
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
the act of using
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading ORGANIZING THE BOYS’ DEPARTMENT Along about a quarter to eight on the evening of the following day a number of eager lads might have been seen making their way in the direction of the central part of town.
(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 The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The double parlor made an excellent hall where entertainments were given, consisting of lectures and educational motion pictures.
in or at the place that
From this reading The extensive cellar had been made into a splendid gymnasium, where basket ball as well could be played on occasion.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a substantial residence, with a hall in the center, and large rooms on either side.
YnounUS /waɪ/
a silvery metallic element that is common in rare-earth minerals; used in magnesium and aluminum alloys
From this reading The building which had been taken for the use of the now firmly established Y. M. C. A. was fairly well adapted to the purpose, though a few changes had been made to suit the needs of the association.
