adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
acquiredadjectiveUS /əˈkwaɪərd/
gotten through environmental forces
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
Andrei
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
askverbUS /æsk/
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
avaricenounUS /ˈæv.ər.ɪs/
Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
BlindnounUS /blaɪnd/
people who have severe visual impairments, considered as a group
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
breakverbUS /breɪk/
terminate
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
Byezhetsk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
chetverts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
considerableadjectiveUS /kənˈsɪdərəbəl/
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
cunningadjectiveUS /ˈkʌnɪŋ/
attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
daringnounUS /ˈderɪŋ/
a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
descendantsnounUS /dɪˈsendənts/
all of the offspring of a given progenitor
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
distinguishedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/
(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
districtsnounUS /ˈdɪstrɪkts/
plural of “district” — a region marked off for administrative or other purposes
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
eminencenounUS /ˈemənəns/
high status importance owing to marked superiority
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
Fedor
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
filledadjectiveUS /fɪld/
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
foundernounUS /ˈfaʊndər/
inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
grantverbUS /ɡrænt/
let have
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
great-grandfather
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
hundrednounUS /ˈhʌndrəd/
ten 10s
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
ImperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
insatiableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈseɪʃəbəl/
impossible to satisfy
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
inspectornounUS /ˌɪnˈspektər/
a high ranking police officer
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
Ivanitch
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
Ivanitch's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
landnounUS /lænd/
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
Lavretsky
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
Lavretskys
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
lingerverbUS /ˈlɪŋɡər/
remain present although waning or gradually dying
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
ManyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
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 Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
munificencenoun
liberality in bestowing gifts; extremely liberal and generous of spirit
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
officesnounUS /ˈɔːfəsəz/
plural of “office” — place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
oldadjectiveUS /oʊld/
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
outlyingadjectiveUS /ˈaʊtlaɪɪŋ/
relatively far from a center or middle
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
permissionnounUS /pərˈmɪʃən/
approval to do something
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
personsnounUS /ˈpɜːrsənz/
plural of “person” — a human being
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
princesnounUS /ˈprɪnsəz/
plural of “prince” — a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
PrussianounUS /ˈprʌʃə/
a former kingdom in north-central Europe including present-day northern Germany and northern Poland
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
ranknounUS /ræŋk/
a row or line of people (especially soldiers or police) standing abreast of one another
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
reader'snounUS /ˈriːdərz/
possessive form of “reader” — a person who enjoys reading
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
recklessadjectiveUS /ˈrekləs/
marked by defiant disregard for danger or consequences
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
reignverbUS /reɪn/
have sovereign power
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
richestadjectiveUS /ˈrɪtʃəst/
superlative of “rich” — possessing material wealth
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
rosenounUS /roʊz/
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
savageadjectiveUS /ˈsævədʒ/
(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
servedverbUS /sɜːrvd/
past form of “serve” — serve a purpose, role, or function
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
storiesnounUS /ˈstɔːriz/
plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
storynounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
tablenounUS /ˈteɪbəl/
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
tempernounUS /ˈtempər/
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
threadverbUS /θred/
to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
tyrannynounUS /ˈtɪrəni/
a form of government in which the ruler is an absolute dictator (not restricted by a constitution or laws or opposition etc.)
From this reading Even to this day stories still linger of his tyranny, his savage temper, his reckless munificence, and his insatiable avarice.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
variousadjectiveUS /ˈveriəs/
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading Many of his descendants filled various offices, and served under princes and persons of eminence in outlying districts, but not one of them rose above the rank of an inspector of the Imperial table nor acquired any considerable fortune.
Vassili
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The founder of the house of Lavretsky came over from Prussia in the reign of Vassili the Blind, and received a grant of two hundred chetverts of land in Byezhetsk.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The richest and most distinguished of all the Lavretskys was Fedor Ivanitch’s great-grandfather, Andrei, a man cruel and daring, cunning and able.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Fedor Ivanitch Lavretsky--we must ask the reader’s permission to break off the thread of our story for a time--came of an old noble family.
