adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
AndconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
answerverbUS /ˈænsər/
react verbally
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
aristocracynounUS /ˌerəˈstɑːkrəsi/
a privileged class holding hereditary titles
From this reading It is still the political aristocracy that asks the questions.
askverbUS /æsk/
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
asksverbUS /æsks/
third-person singular of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading It is still the political aristocracy that asks the questions.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
carefuladjectiveUS /ˈkerfəl/
exercising caution or showing care or attention
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
chooseverbUS /tʃuːz/
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
classnounUS /klæs/
a collection of things sharing a common attribute
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
comesnounUS /kʌmz/
plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
comfortnounUS /ˈkʌmfərt/
a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
continuesverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːz/
third-person singular of “continue” — continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
coursesnounUS /ˈkɔːrsəz/
plural of “course” — education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
cynicaladjectiveUS /ˈsɪnɪkəl/
believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
dangerousadjectiveUS /ˈdeɪndʒərəs/
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
democracynounUS /dɪˈmɑːkrəsi/
the political orientation of those who favor government by the people or by their elected representatives
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
democraticadjectiveUS /ˌdeməˈkrætɪk/
characterized by or advocating or based upon the principles of democracy or social equality
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
electionnounUS /ɪˈlekʃən/
a vote to select the winner of a position or political office
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/
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 And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
gratificationnounUS /ˌɡrætəfəˈkeɪʃən/
state of being gratified or satisfied
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is still the political aristocracy that asks the questions.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
lessadverbUS /les/
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
longeradverbUS /ˈlɔːŋɡər/
for more time
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
modernadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdərn/
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
politicaladjectiveUS /pəˈlɪtəkəl/
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading It is still the political aristocracy that asks the questions.
powerfuladjectiveUS /ˈpaʊərfəl/
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
questionsnounUS /ˈkwestʃənz/
plural of “question” — an instance of questioning
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
RomanadjectiveUS /ˈroʊmən/
relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
safeadjectiveUS /seɪf/
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
saturnalianoun
an orgiastic festival in ancient Rome in honor of Saturn
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
self-flattery
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
shallmodal verbUS /ʃæl/
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
situationnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃən/
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
slavesnounUS /sleɪvz/
plural of “slave” — a person who is owned by someone
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
SoconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading It is still the political aristocracy that asks the questions.
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
thenadverbUS /ðen/
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading So that the situation comes to this: The democracy has a right to answer questions, but it has no right to ask them.
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading For the powerful class will choose two courses of action, both of them safe for itself, and then give the democracy the gratification of taking one course or the other.
unreasonablyadverbUS /ənˈriːzənəbli/
not in a reasonable or intelligent manner
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
valuenounUS /ˈvæljuː/
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading And if the dangerous comfort and self-flattery of modern England continues much longer there will be less democratic value in an English election than in a Roman saturnalia of slaves.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading And we shall not be unreasonably cynical if we suppose that the political aristocracy will always be rather careful what questions it asks.
