adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
acquaintverbUS /əˈkweɪnt/
cause to come to know personally
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
alreadyadverbUS /ɔːlˈredi/
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
asleepadjectiveUS /əˈsliːp/
in a state of sleep
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
assassinatedadjectiveUS /əˈsæsəneɪtɪd/
murdered by surprise attack for political reasons
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
awareadjectiveUS /əˈwer/
(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
beautifuladjectiveUS /ˈbjuːtəfəl/
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
begunverbUS /bɪˈɡʌn/
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
betteradjectiveUS /ˈbetər/
(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 Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
certainadjectiveUS /ˈsɜːrtən/
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
Colomba
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
colonelnounUS /ˈkɜːrnəl/
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
convictnounUS /ˈkɑːnvɪkt/
a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
CorsicanounUS /ˈkɔːrsɪkə/
an island in the Mediterranean; with adjacent islets it constitutes a region of France
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
daughternounUS /ˈdɔːtər/
a female human offspring
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
della
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
desiresnounUS /dɪˈzaɪərz/
plural of “desire” — the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
detailsnounUS /dɪˈteɪlz/
true confidential information
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
deviseverbUS /dɪˈvaɪz/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
discoververbUS /dɪˈskʌvər/
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
enemiesnounUS /ˈenəmiz/
plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
escapedadjectiveUS /ɪˈskeɪpt/
having escaped, especially from confinement
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
followverbUS /ˈfɑːloʊ/
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
FrancenounUS /fræns/
a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
furtheradverbUS /ˈfɜːrðər/
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
historynounUS /ˈhɪstəri/
the aggregate of past events
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
HoracenounUS /ˈhɔːrəs/
Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
ignorantadjectiveUS /ˈɪɡnərənt/
uneducated in general; lacking knowledge or sophistication
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
medianounUS /ˈmiːdiə/
plural of “medium” — a means or instrumentality for storing or communicating information
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
murderedadjectiveUS /ˈmɜːrdərd/
killed unlawfully
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
NowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
obediencenounUS /oʊˈbiːdiəns/
the act of obeying; dutiful or submissive behavior with respect to another person
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
oftenadverbUS /ˈɔːfən/
many times at short intervals
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
onepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
opportunitynounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
Orso's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
plungingverbUS /ˈplʌndʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
preceptnounUS /ˈpriːsept/
rule of personal conduct
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
readernounUS /ˈriːdər/
a person who enjoys reading
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
Rebbia
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He is already aware that Colonel della Rebbia, Orso’s father, had been assassinated.
relievingverbUS /rɪˈliːvɪŋ/
-ing form of “relieve” — provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
resnounUS /reɪz/
a widely distributed system consisting of all the cells able to ingest bacteria or colloidal particles etc, except for certain white blood cells
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
silver-plateverb
plate with silver
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is in obedience to the precept of Horace that I have begun by plunging _in media res_.
veraciousadjective
habitually speaking the truth
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading In Corsica a man is murdered by his enemies--but the reason he has enemies is often very difficult to discover.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Now, in Corsica, people are not murdered, as they are in France, by the first escaped convict who can devise no better means of relieving a man of his silver-plate.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading Now that every one is asleep--the beautiful Colomba, the colonel, and his daughter--I will seize the opportunity to acquaint my reader with certain details of which he must not be ignorant, if he desires to follow the further course of this veracious history.
