adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
AboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
actingnounUS /ˈæktɪŋ/
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
affectedadjectiveUS /əˈfektɪd/
acted upon; influenced
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
affectionnounUS /əˈfekʃən/
a positive feeling of liking
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
AnnenounUS /æn/
Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
AustrianounUS /ˈɔːstriə/
a mountainous republic in central Europe; under the Habsburgs (1278-1918) Austria maintained control of the Holy Roman Empire and was a leader in European politics until the 19th century
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
bibliophilenoun
someone who loves (and usually collects) books
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
bindernounUS /ˈbaɪndər/
a machine that cuts grain and binds it in sheaves
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
booknounUS /bʊk/
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
CardinalnounUS /ˈkɑːrdənəl/
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
constantadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːnstənt/
unvarying in nature
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
copiesnounUS /ˈkɑːpiz/
plural of “copy” — a reproduction of a written record (e.g. of a legal or school record)
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
declareverbUS /dɪˈkler/
state emphatically and authoritatively
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
decorationsnounUS /ˌdekərˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “decoration” — something used to beautify
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
devotionaladjectiveUS /dɪˈvoʊʃənəl/
relating to worship
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
dotsnounUS /dɑːts/
plural of “dot” — a very small circular shape
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
doubtnounUS /daʊt/
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
famousadjectiveUS /ˈfeɪməs/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
fashionableadjectiveUS /ˈfæʃənəbəl/
being or in accordance with current social fashions
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
fashionsnounUS /ˈfæʃənz/
plural of “fashion” — how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
Fontaine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
friendnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
Gascon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
Gascon's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
goverbUS /ɡoʊ/
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
goldnounUS /ɡoʊld/
coins made of gold
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
imitatedverbUS /ˈɪməteɪtɪd/
past form of “imitate” — reproduce someone's behavior or looks
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
includeverbUS /ˌɪnˈkluːd/
have as a part, be made up out of
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
LanounUS /lɑː/
a white soft metallic element that tarnishes readily; occurs in rare earth minerals and is usually classified as a rare earth
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
laceverbUS /leɪs/
spin, wind, or twist together
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
LenounUS /lə/
a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
LouisnounUS /ˈluːɪs/
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
LovenounUS /lʌv/
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
Mazarin
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
mepronounUS /miː/
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
mightmodal verbUS /maɪt/
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
mothernounUS /ˈmʌðər/
a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
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 If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
originalitynounUS /ərˌɪdʒəˈnælɪti/
the ability to think and act independently
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
passionnounUS /ˈpæʃən/
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
patternsnounUS /ˈpætərnz/
plural of “pattern” — a perceptual structure
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
pietynounUS /ˈpaɪəti/
righteousness by virtue of being pious
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
pointsnounUS /pɔɪnts/
plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
probablyadverbUS /ˈprɑːbəbliː/
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
productionsnounUS /prəˈdʌkʃənz/
plural of “production” — the act or process of producing something
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
Queen-Mother's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
RevolutionnounUS /ˌrevəˈluːʃən/
a drastic and far-reaching change in ways of thinking and behaving
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
royaladjectiveUS /ˈrɔɪəl/
of or relating to or indicative of or issued or performed by a king or queen or other monarch
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
sacrificesnounUS /ˈsækrəfaɪsɪz/
plural of “sacrifice” — the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
seemsverbUS /siːmz/
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
shepronounUS /ʃiː/
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
skilledadjectiveUS /skɪld/
having or showing or requiring special skill
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
suspectedadjectiveUS /səˈspektɪd/
believed likely
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
tastesnounUS /teɪsts/
plural of “taste” — the sensation that results when taste buds in the tongue and throat convey information about the chemical composition of a soluble stimulus
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading About her affection for Cardinal Mazarin there seems to be no doubt: the Cardinal had a famous library, and his royal friend probably imitated his tastes.
treatisesnounUS /ˈtriːtəsəz/
plural of “treatise” — a formal exposition
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
VenicenounUS /ˈvenəs/
the provincial capital of Veneto; built on 118 islands within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice; has canals instead of streets; one of Italy's major ports and a famous tourist attraction
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
volumesnounUS /ˈvɑːljuːmz/
plural of “volume” — the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading In her time, and on her volumes, the originality and taste of the skilled binder, Le Gascon, begin to declare themselves.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
whateverdeterminerUS /ˌwʌˈtevər/
any or all of a kind, it does not matter which
From this reading The Queen-Mother’s books include many devotional treatises, for, whatever other fashions might come and go, piety was always constant before the Revolution.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The fashionable passion for lace, to which La Fontaine made such sacrifices, affected the art of book decorations, and Le Gascon’s beautiful patterns of gold points and dots are copies of the productions of Venice.
XIVnoun
the cardinal number that is the sum of thirteen and one
From this reading If Anne of Austria, the mother of Louis XIV., was a bibliophile, she may be suspected of acting on the motive, “Love me, love my books.”
