Chapter I · Chapter 1

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

Having no one else present.

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading "There are good plantations and bad plantations, Vincent; and there are many more good ones than bad ones.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading "There are good plantations and bad plantations, Vincent; and there are many more good ones than bad ones.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading There are brutes to be found everywhere.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

a loving feeling

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

a native or inhabitant of Europe

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

divisible by two

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

to or in any or all places

From this reading There are brutes to be found everywhere.

a person who operates a farm

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

set up or found

From this reading There are brutes to be found everywhere.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

a healthy state of wellbeing free from disease

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

an organization founded and united for a specific purpose

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

and nothing more

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

plural of “laborer” — someone who works with their hands; someone engaged in manual labor

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

plural of “landlord” — a landowner who leases to others

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

immediately past

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

United States poet (1869-1950)

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading "There are good plantations and bad plantations, Vincent; and there are many more good ones than bad ones.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading "There are good plantations and bad plantations, Vincent; and there are many more good ones than bad ones.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

plural of “plantation” — an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)

From this reading "There are good plantations and bad plantations, Vincent; and there are many more good ones than bad ones.

the owner or manager of a plantation

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

cause to become

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

offensive to the mind

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

an educational institution

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

taking advantage of opportunities without regard for the consequences for others

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

the state of being under the control of another person

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone

From this reading But even from self-interest alone, a planter has greater reason for caring for the health and comfort of his slaves than an English farmer has in caring for the comfort of his laborers.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading There are bad masters in the Southern States just as there are bad landlords in every European country.

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

a discussion intended to produce an agreement

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "There are good plantations and bad plantations, Vincent; and there are many more good ones than bad ones.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.

a late time of life

From this reading The four years Vincent had passed in the English school had done much to render the institution of slavery repugnant to him, and his father had had many serious talks with him during the last year of his life, and had shown him that there was a good deal to be said upon both sides of the subject.