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1 Ben Frankllin diplomat noun person who manages international relations He was, during his eighty-four-year-long life, America's best scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, and business strategist, and he was also one of its most practical, though not most profound, political thinkers. Ben Frankllin strategist noun skillful planner He was, during his eighty-four-year-long life, America's best scientist, inventor, diplomat, writer, and business strategist, and he was also one of its most practical, though not most profound, political thinkers. Ben Frankllin devised verb designed He devised bifocal glasses and clean-burning stoves, charts of the Gulf Stream and theories about the contagious nature of the common cold. Ben Frankllin unbiased adjective without prejudice well knowing that it was the most suitable time to make deep and lasting impressions on the mind, while it was yet untainted with vice, free and unbiased. Ben Franklin contagious adjective spread through contact He devised bifocal glasses and clean-burning stoves, charts of the Gulf Stream and theories about the contagious nature of the common cold. Ben Franklin attained verb achieved He endeavored that I might be instructed in all that knowledge and learning which is necessary for our sex, and denied me no accomplishment that could possibly be attained in a country place; Ben Franklin schemes noun plans He launched various civic improvement schemes, such as a lending library, college, volunteer fire corps, insurance association, and matching grant fund-raiser. Ben Franklin homespun adjective simple or plain He helped invent America's unique style of homespun humor and philosophical pragmatism. 1

2 Ben Franklin epistle noun letter It may not be improper in the first place to inform your readers, that I intend once a fortnight to present them, by the help of this paper, with a short epistle, which I presume will add somewhat to their entertainment. Ben Franklin commend verb praise And since it is observed, that the generality of people, now a days, are unwilling either to commend or dispraise what they read, Ben Franklin dispraise verb find fault with And since it is observed, that the generality of people, now a days, are unwilling either to commend or dispraise what they read, Ben Franklin scholar noun learned person until they are in some measure informed who or what the author of it is, whether he be poor or rich, old or young, a scholar or a leather apron man, etc. Ben Franklin frivolous adjective unimportant I will not abuse your patience with a tedious recital of all the frivolous accidents of my life, that happened from this time until I arrived to years of discretion, Ben Franklin austere adjective stern George Washington's colleagues found it hard to imagine touching the austere general on the shoulder, and we would find it even more so today. Ben Franklin ambitious adjective eager to achieve But Ben Franklin, that ambitious urban entrepreneur, seems made of flesh rather than of marble, addressable by nickname, and he turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind those newfangled spectacles. 2

3 Ben Franklin tedious adjective boring I will not abuse your patience with a tedious recital of all the frivolous accidents of my life, that happened from this time until I arrived to years of discretion, Ben Franklin entrepreneur noun business person But Ben Franklin, that ambitious urban entrepreneur, seems made of flesh rather than of marble, addressable by nickname, and he turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind those newfangled spectacles. Ben Franklin newfangled adjective ridiculously new or modern But Ben Franklin, that ambitious urban entrepreneur, seems made of flesh rather than of marble, addressable by nickname, and he turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind those newfangled spectacles. Ben Franklin confine verb limit I will not tire your readers with tedious particulars of no consequence, but will briefly, and in as few words as possible, relate the most material occurrences of my life, and according to my promise, confine all to this letter. Ben Franklin rhetoric noun methods for writing and speaking He speaks to us, through his letters and hoaxes and autobiography, not with orotund rhetoric but with a chattiness and clever irony that is very contemporary, sometimes unnervingly so. Ben Franklin Junto noun political group In a witty newspaper piece called On Conversation, which he wrote shortly after forming the Junto, Franklin stressed the importance of deferring, or at least giving the appearance of deferring, to others. 3

4 Ben Franklin unnervingly adverb in an intimidating way He speaks to us, through his letters and hoaxes and autobiography, not with orotund rhetoric but with a chattiness and clever irony that is very contemporary, sometimes unnervingly so. Ben Franklin assumed adjective alias They were written under an assumed name. Ben Franklin alter-ego noun second self or identity He created an alter-ego named Silence Dogood. Ben Franklin labor noun work It was a common form of labor back in the 1700s in between being a completely free man and being a slave or indentured servant. Ben Franklin indentured participle (verb acting like an adjective) contracted It was a common form of labor back in the 1700s in between being a completely free man and being a slave or indentured servant. Ben Franklin tyrannical adjective cruel and controlling I fancy his harsh and tyrannical treatment of me, Franklin later speculated, had the affect of impressing me with that aversion to arbitrary power that has stuck to me through my whole life. Ben Franklin speculated verb guessed I fancy his harsh and tyrannical treatment of me, Franklin later speculated, had the affect of impressing me with that aversion to arbitrary power that has stuck to me through my whole life. 4

5 Ben Franklin aversion noun strong dislike I fancy his harsh and tyrannical treatment of me, Franklin later speculated, had the affect of impressing me with that aversion to arbitrary power that has stuck to me through my whole life. Ben Franklin fruitless adjective unsuccessful and having made several unsuccessful fruitless attempts on the more topping sort of our sex, Ben Franklin pseudonym noun false name So one night he invented a pseudonym, disguised his handwriting, and slipped an essay under the printing house door. Ben Franklin lauded verb praised His brother s friends who gathered the next day lauded the anonymous submission, and Franklin had the exquisite pleasure of listening as they decided to feature it on the front page of the next issue. Ben Franklin anonymous adjective with author unnamed His brother s friends who gathered the next day lauded the anonymous submission, and Franklin had the exquisite pleasure of listening as they decided to feature it on the front page of the next issue. Ben Franklin exquisite adjective intense His brother s friends who gathered the next day lauded the anonymous submission, and Franklin had the exquisite pleasure of listening as they decided to feature it on the front page of the next issue. Ben Franklin prudish adjective overly modest and proper Silence Dogood was a slightly prudish widowed woman from a rural area, created by a spunky unmarried Boston teenager who had never spent a night outside of the city. 5

6 Ben Franklin rural adjective in the country Silence Dogood was a slightly prudish widowed woman from a rural area, created by a spunky unmarried Boston teenager who had never spent a night outside of the city. Ben Franklin impropriety noun rudeness...made me soon feel the impropriety of presenting one's self as the proposer of any useful project, Ben Franklin soliciting gerund (verb acting like a noun) asking for The objections and reluctances I met with in soliciting the subscriptions, Ben Franklin augmented adjective expanded The libraries were augmented by donations; Ben Franklin manifested verb showed The institution soon manifested its utility, Ben Franklin dissolve verb break down "When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, Ben Franklin station noun position the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. Ben Franklin impel verb drive the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. 6

7 Ben Franklin endowed verb provided We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Ben Franklin deriving verb drawing...deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, Ben Franklin alter verb change it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, Ben Franklin abolish verb do away with it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, Ben Franklin dictate verb command will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; Ben Franklin transient adjective temporary will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; Ben Franklin invariably adverb constantly pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, Ben Franklin formidable adjective threatening He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only. 7

8 Ben Franklin suspended verb indefinitely stopped He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them. Ben Franklin benefactor noun supporter As he had been a great benefactor (and in a manner a father to me) I could not well deny his request, when I once perceived he was in earnest. Ben Franklin civic adjective community He launched various civic improvement schemes, such as a lending library, college, volunteer fire corps, insurance association, and matching grant fund-raiser. Ben Franklin urban adjective city-based But Ben Franklin, that ambitious urban entrepreneur, seems made of flesh rather than of marble, addressable by nickname, and he turns to us from history's stage with eyes that twinkle from behind those newfangled spectacles. Ben Franklin federal adjective involving an agreement between different states to work together And in politics, he proposed seminal plans for uniting the colonies and creating a federal model for a national government. Ben Franklin discretion noun mature judgment I will not abuse your patience with a tedious recital of all the frivolous accidents of my life, that happened from this time until I arrived to years of discretion, 8

9 Ben Franklin diversion noun fun only inform you that I lived a cheerful country life, spending my leisure time either in some innocent diversion with the neighboring females, or in some shady retirement, with the best of company, books. Ben Franklin consent verb agree Whether it was love, or gratitude, or pride, or all three that made me consent, I know not; Ben Franklin defer verb put off As I would not engross too much of your paper at once, I will defer the remainder of my story until my next letter. Ben Franklin pragmatism noun practical attitude He helped invent America's unique style of homespun humor and philosophical pragmatism. Ben Franklin idealism noun living up to high standards In foreign policy, he created an approach that wove together idealism with balance-of-power realism. Ben Franklin proposed verb suggested And in politics, he proposed seminal plans for uniting the colonies and creating a federal model for a national government. Ben Franklin seminal adjective important and influential And in politics, he proposed seminal plans for uniting the colonies and creating a federal model for a national government. Ben Franklin amiss adjective wrong it may not be amiss to begin with a short account of my past life and present condition, that the reader may not be at a loss to judge whether or no my lucubrations are worth his reading. 9

10 Ben Franklin reprieve noun temporary escape for as he, poor man, stood upon the deck rejoicing at my birth, a merciless wave entered the ship, and in one moment carried him beyond reprieve. Ben Franklin disconsolate adjective unhappy and thus was my disconsolate mother at once made both a parent and a widow. Ben Franklin pious adjective religious My master was a country minister, a pious good-natured young man, and a bachelor: he labored with all his might to instill virtuous and godly principles into my tender soul, Ben Franklin instill verb introduce My master was a country minister, a pious good-natured young man, and a bachelor: he labored with all his might to instill virtuous and godly principles into my tender soul, Ben Franklin virtuous adjective good My master was a country minister, a pious good-natured young man, and a bachelor: he labored with all his might to instill virtuous and godly principles into my tender soul, Ben Franklin untainted adjective unpolluted well knowing that it was the most suitable time to make deep and lasting impressions on the mind, while it was yet untainted with vice, free and unbiased. Ben Franklin vice noun wicked behavior well knowing that it was the most suitable time to make deep and lasting impressions on the mind, while it was yet untainted with vice, free and unbiased. Ben Franklin inform verb tell It may not be improper in the first place to inform your readers, that I intend once a fortnight to present them, by the help of this paper, with a short epistle, which I presume will add somewhat to their entertainment. 10

11 Ben Franklin intend verb plan It may not be improper in the first place to inform your readers, that I intend once a fortnight to present them, by the help of this paper, with a short epistle, which I presume will add somewhat to their entertainment. Ben Franklin fortnight noun period of fourteen nights It may not be improper in the first place to inform your readers, that I intend once a fortnight to present them, by the help of this paper, with a short epistle, which I presume will add somewhat to their entertainment. Ben Franklin spunky adjective spirited Silence Dogood was a slightly prudish widowed woman from a rural area, created by a spunky unmarried Boston teenager who had never spent a night outside of the city. Ben Franklin reprove verb express disapproval of I have likewise a natural inclination to observe and reprove the faults of others, at which I have an excellent faculty. Ben Franklin provoked participle (verb acting like an adjective) angered I am courteous and affable, good humored (unless I am first provoked,) and handsome, and sometimes witty, but always, sir, your friend and humble servant, Ben Franklin vie verb compete His secret for how to win friends and influence people read like an early Dale Carnegie course: Would you win the hearts of others, you must not seem to vie with them, but to admire them. Ben Franklin indulged verb given in to Give them every opportunity of displaying their own qualifications, and when you have indulged their vanity, they will praise you in turn and prefer you above others 11

12 Ben Franklin catalog verb list Franklin went on to catalog the most common conversational sins which cause dislike, the greatest being talking overmuch which never fails to excite resentment. Ben Franklin shunned verb avoided ( old folks are most subject to this error, which is one chief reason their company is so often shunned ) Ben Franklin Ben Franklin Ben Franklin contradicting disputing railing gerund (verb acting like a noun) gerund (verb acting like a noun) participle (verb acting like an saying the opposite arguing against complaining bitterly...contradicting or disputing someone directly, ridiculing or railing against things except in small witty doses...contradicting or disputing someone directly, ridiculing or railing against things except in small witty doses...contradicting or disputing someone directly, ridiculing or railing against things except in small witty doses Ben Franklin dogmatical adjective inflexible For these fifty years past no one has ever heard a dogmatical expression escape me, he recalled when writing his autobiography. Ben Franklin passive adjective unresisting This velvet-tongued and sweetly passive style of circumspect argument would make him seem sage to some, insinuating and manipulative to others, but inflammatory to almost nobody. Ben Franklin circumspect adjective cautious This velvet-tongued and sweetly passive style of circumspect argument would make him seem sage to some, insinuating and manipulative to others, but inflammatory to almost nobody. 12

13 Ben Franklin sage adjective wise This velvet-tongued and sweetly passive style of circumspect argument would make him seem sage to some, insinuating and manipulative to others, but inflammatory to almost nobody. Ben Franklin insinuating participle (verb acting like an adjective) sly This velvet-tongued and sweetly passive style of circumspect argument would make him seem sage to some, insinuating and manipulative to others, but inflammatory to almost nobody. Ben Franklin manipulative adjective able to influence This velvet-tongued and sweetly passive style of circumspect argument would make him seem sage to some, insinuating and manipulative to others, but inflammatory to almost nobody. Ben Franklin inflammatory adjective causing excitement This velvet-tongued and sweetly passive style of circumspect argument would make him seem sage to some, insinuating and manipulative to others, but inflammatory to almost nobody. Ben Franklin latter noun second one While I was intent on improving my language, I met with an English grammar, at the end of which there were two little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method; Ben Franklin specimen noun example While I was intent on improving my language, I met with an English grammar, at the end of which there were two little sketches of the arts of rhetoric and logic, the latter finishing with a specimen of a dispute in the Socratic method; 13

14 Ben Franklin procured verb obtained and soon after I procured Xenophon's Memorable Things of Socrates, wherein there are many instances of the same method. Ben Franklin doctrine noun system of beliefs And being then, from reading Shaftesbury and Collins, become a real doubter in many points of our religious doctrine, I found this method safest for myself and very embarrassing to those against whom I used it; Ben Franklin foresee verb expect therefore I took a delight in it, practiced it continually, and grew very artful and expert in drawing people, even of superior knowledge, into concessions, the consequences of which they did not foresee, Ben Franklin extricate verb untangle entangling them in difficulties out of which they could not extricate themselves, and so obtaining victories that neither myself nor my cause always deserved. Ben Franklin diffidence noun distrust I continued this method some few years, but gradually left it, retaining only the habit of expressing myself in terms of modest diffidence; Ben Franklin conceive verb imagine but rather say, I conceive or apprehend a thing to be so and so, it appears to me, or I should think it so or so, for such and such reasons ; 14