adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
bornadjectiveUS /bɔːrn/
brought into existence
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
churchnounUS /tʃɜːrtʃ/
one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
contemptnounUS /kənˈtempt/
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
costnounUS /kɑːst/
the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
drewnounUS /druː/
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
dyingadjectiveUS /ˈdaɪɪŋ/
in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
educationnounUS /ˌedʒəˈkeɪʃən/
the activities of educating or instructing; activities that impart knowledge or skill
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
enterverbUS /ˈentər/
to come or go into
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
familynounUS /ˈfæməli/
a social unit living together
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
forcedadjectiveUS /fɔːrst/
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
geniusnounUS /ˈdʒiːnjəs/
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
happenedverbUS /ˈhæpənd/
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
honornounUS /ˈɑːnər/
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
humornounUS /ˈhjuːmər/
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading “This humor pursued me through my life.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
indulgedverbUS /ˌɪnˈdʌldʒd/
past form of “indulge” — give free rein to
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
intendedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtendɪd/
resulting from one's intentions
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
JuliannounUS /ˈdʒuːliən/
Roman Emperor and nephew of Constantine; he restored paganism as the official religion of the Roman Empire and destroyed Christian temples but his decision was reversed after his death (331?-363)
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
knacknounUS /næk/
a special way of doing something
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
leavingnounUS /ˈliːvɪŋ/
the act of departing
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “This humor pursued me through my life.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
mendicants
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
mistookverbUS /mɪˈstʊk/
inflected form of “mistake” — identify incorrectly
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
myselfpronounUS /ˌmaɪˈself/
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
nativitynounUS /nəˈtɪvəti/
the event of being born
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
ordernounUS /ˈɔːrdər/
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
patrimonynounUS /ˈpætrəmoʊni/
a church endowment
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
poetnounUS /ˈpoʊət/
a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
prettyadjectiveUS /ˈprɪti/
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
pursuednounUS /pərˈsuːd/
a person who is being chased
From this reading “This humor pursued me through my life.
recountsnounUS /ˌriːˈkaʊnts/
plural of “recount” — an additional (usually a second) count; especially of the votes in a close election
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
remarkableadjectiveUS /rɪˈmɑːrkəbəl/
unusual or striking
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
rhymingadjectiveUS /ˈraɪmɪŋ/
having corresponding sounds especially terminal sounds
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
richesnounUS /ˈrɪtʃəz/
an abundance of material possessions and resources
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
ridiculenounUS /ˈrɪdəkjuːl/
language or behavior intended to mock or humiliate
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
RomenounUS /roʊm/
capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
schoolnounUS /skuːl/
an educational institution
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
seatnounUS /siːt/
a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
ThisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “This humor pursued me through my life.
throughprepositionUS /θruː/
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading “This humor pursued me through my life.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
unhappilyadverbUS /ənˈhæpəli/
in an unpleasant way
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
wastedadjectiveUS /ˈweɪstɪd/
serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading “Rome was now the seat of my nativity, where I was born of a family more remarkable for honor than riches.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “When I was at school I had a knack of rhyming, which I unhappily mistook for genius, and indulged to my cost; for my verses drew on me only ridicule, and I was in contempt called the poet.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading Julian recounts what happened to him while he was a poet.
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
youngadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading I was intended for the church, and had a pretty good education; but my father dying while I was young, and leaving me nothing, for he had wasted his whole patrimony, I was forced to enter myself in the order of mendicants.
