used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
actorsnounUS /ˈæktərz/
plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
applausenounUS /əˈplɔːz/
a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
arrayedadjectiveUS /ərˈeɪd/
in ceremonial attire and paraphernalia
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
Beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
clothing in general
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
courtiernounUS /ˈkɔːrtiər/
an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/
plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
an artistic form of nonverbal communication
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
dancedverbUS /dænst/
past form of “dance” — move in a graceful and rhythmical way
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
morally objectionable behavior
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
handfulnounUS /ˈhændfʊl/
a small number or amount
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
hatefuladjectiveUS /ˈheɪtfəl/
evoking or deserving hatred
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
intentionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃənz/
plural of “intention” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
masksnounUS /mæsks/
plural of “mask” — a covering to disguise or conceal the face
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
mimicsnounUS /ˈmɪmɪks/
plural of “mimic” — someone who mimics (especially an actor or actress)
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
MonkeysnounUS /ˈmʌŋkiz/
plural of “monkey” — any of various long-tailed primates (excluding the prosimians)
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
as might be expected
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
nutsadjectiveUS /nʌts/
informal or slang terms for mentally irregular
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
many times at short intervals
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
pupilsnounUS /ˈpjuːpəlz/
plural of “pupil” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
recurring again and again
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
possessing material wealth
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
safeguardsnounUS /ˈseɪfɡɑːrdz/
plural of “safeguard” — a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
up to a particular time
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading The Dancing Monkeys A PRINCE had some Monkeys trained to dance.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The spectacle was often repeated with great applause, till on one occasion a courtier, bent on mischief, took from his pocket a handful of nuts and threw them upon the stage.
(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 Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Monkeys at the sight of the nuts forgot their dancing and became (as indeed they were) Monkeys instead of actors.
at the time that
From this reading Being naturally great mimics of men’s actions, they showed themselves most apt pupils, and when arrayed in their rich clothes and masks, they danced as well as any of the courtiers.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The safeguards of virtue are hateful to those with evil intentions.
