used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
activitynounUS /ækˈtɪvəti/
any specific behavior
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
assertverbUS /əˈsɜːrt/
state categorically
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
commercenounUS /ˈkɑːmərs/
transactions (sales and purchases) having the objective of supplying commodities (goods and services)
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress
From this reading Under the new constitution the Council was composed of thirteen patricians and thirteen members of the guilds.
constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading Under the new constitution the Council was composed of thirteen patricians and thirteen members of the guilds.
a body serving in an administrative capacity
From this reading Under the new constitution the Council was composed of thirteen patricians and thirteen members of the guilds.
dominationnounUS /ˌdɑːməˈneɪʃən/
social control by dominating
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
enjoyingverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
flourishedverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃt/
past form of “flourish” — grow vigorously
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
grant freedom to; free from confinement
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
(of animals) fully developed
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
guildsnounUS /ɡɪldz/
plural of “guild” — a formal association of people with similar interests
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
imperialadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɪriəl/
relating to or associated with an empire
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
of great significance or value
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
intellectualadjectiveUS /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuːəl/
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
KnightsnounUS /naɪts/
plural of “knight” — originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
lackingadjectiveUS /ˈlækɪŋ/
inadequate in amount or degree
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading Under the new constitution the Council was composed of thirteen patricians and thirteen members of the guilds.
municipalitiesnounUS /ˌmjuːnɪsəˈpælɪtiz/
plural of “municipality” — an urban district having corporate status and powers of self-government
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Under the new constitution the Council was composed of thirteen patricians and thirteen members of the guilds.
noblesnounUS /ˈnoʊbəlz/
plural of “noble” — a titled peer of the realm
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
opinionsnounUS /əˈpɪnjənz/
plural of “opinion” — a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
patriciansnounUS /pəˈtrɪʃənz/
plural of “patrician” — a person of refined upbringing and manners
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
property-holders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading It was enjoying a rest from the domination of the great property-holders and nobles, known as the patricians.
RobbernounUS /ˈrɑːbər/
a thief who steals from someone by threatening violence
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
thirteennounUS /ˈθɜːrˈtiːn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of twelve and one
From this reading Under the new constitution the Council was composed of thirteen patricians and thirteen members of the guilds.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The guilds had now grown strong enough to assert their opinions.
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under the new constitution the Council was composed of thirteen patricians and thirteen members of the guilds.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Its trade and commerce flourished, nor was it lacking in intellectual activity.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
ZurichnounUS /ˈzʊrɪk/
the largest city in Switzerland; located in the northern part of the country
From this reading The Robber Knights Zurich, which had long been a free imperial city, held an important position among the municipalities.
