1769
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
matters of personal concern
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
(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 In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading It was better in old times, when the ministry was wicked and the mob foolish....
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
criticaladjectiveUS /ˈkrɪtɪkəl/
marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
executionnounUS /ˌeksəˈkjuːʃən/
putting a condemned person to death
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
devoid of good sense or judgment
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
honourableadjectiveUS /ˈɑːnərəbəl/
worthy of being honored; entitled to honor and respect
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
inducedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈduːst/
brought about or caused; not spontaneous
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was better in old times, when the ministry was wicked and the mob foolish....
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
matchedadjectiveUS /mætʃt/
provided with a worthy adversary or competitor
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
MinistersnounUS /ˈmɪnəstərz/
plural of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
ministrynounUS /ˈmɪnəstri/
religious ministers collectively (especially Presbyterian)
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
mobnounUS /mɑːb/
a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
mobsnounUS /mɑːbz/
plural of “mob” — a disorderly crowd of people
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
MontagunounUS /ˈmɑːntəɡjuː/
United States anthropologist (born in England) who popularized anthropology (1905-)
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
motivenounUS /ˈmoʊtɪv/
the psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a desired goal; the reason for the action; that which gives purpose and direction to behavior
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
a form of address for a married woman
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading It was better in old times, when the ministry was wicked and the mob foolish....
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
and nothing more
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
personallyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrsənəli/
as yourself
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
praiseworthyadjectiveUS /ˈpreɪzwɜːrði/
worthy of high praise
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
bring forth or yield
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading Ministers, however wicked, do not pull down houses, nor ignorant mobs pull down government.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
resultsnounUS /rɪˈzʌlts/
plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
in an unfortunate way
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading A mob that can read and a ministry that cannot think are sadly matched.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading It was better in old times, when the ministry was wicked and the mob foolish....
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
undertakeverbUS /ˈʌndərteɪk/
enter upon an activity or enterprise
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was better in old times, when the ministry was wicked and the mob foolish....
(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 In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
at the time that
From this reading It was better in old times, when the ministry was wicked and the mob foolish....
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
morally bad in principle or practice
From this reading In 1769, the critical state of public affairs drew from Mrs. Montagu the following reflection: “I hope I shall see all my friends safe and well at my return to town; but, indeed, a wicked mob and a foolish ministry may produce strange events.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading In truth, however, Mrs. Montagu was engaged during this year on a work which was not only praiseworthy for the motive which induced her to undertake it, but honourable to her for its execution, and it may almost be added, glorious to her personally in its results.
