adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
addedverbUS /ˈædəd/
past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
alsoadverbUS /ˈɔːlsoʊ/
in addition
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading It seems difficult to understand how the taking of Constantinople could have any effect on our literature.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
bringingnounUS /ˈbrɪŋɪŋ/
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
centurynounUS /ˈsentʃəri/
a period of 100 years
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
ConstantinoplenounUS /ˌkɑːnstæntəˈnoʊpəl/
the largest city and former capital of Turkey
From this reading That was the taking of Constantinople by the Turks.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It seems difficult to understand how the taking of Constantinople could have any effect on our literature.
difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading It seems difficult to understand how the taking of Constantinople could have any effect on our literature.
discoverynounUS /dɪˈskʌvəri/
the act of discovering something
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
dulladjectiveUS /dʌl/
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
effectnounUS /ɪˈfekt/
a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading It seems difficult to understand how the taking of Constantinople could have any effect on our literature.
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
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 You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
eventnounUS /ɪˈvent/
something that happens at a given place and time
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
eyesnounUS /aɪz/
opinion or judgment
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
fifteenthadjectiveUS /fɪfˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the fourteenth and just before the sixteenth in position
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It seems difficult to understand how the taking of Constantinople could have any effect on our literature.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
learningnounUS /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
longadjectiveUS /lɔːŋ/
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 RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
makeverbUS /meɪk/
engage in
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
men'snounUS /menz/
a public toilet for men
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
mindsnounUS /maɪndz/
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
newadjectiveUS /nuː/
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It seems difficult to understand how the taking of Constantinople could have any effect on our literature.
openedadjectiveUS /ˈoʊpənd/
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
printingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
rebirthnounUS /riˈbɜːrθ/
after death the soul begins a new cycle of existence in another human body
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
RENAISSANCEnounUS /ˌrenəˈsɑːns/
the period of European history at the close of the Middle Ages and the rise of the modern world; a cultural rebirth from the 14th through the middle of the 17th centuries
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
seemsverbUS /siːmz/
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading It seems difficult to understand how the taking of Constantinople could have any effect on our literature.
somethingpronounUS /ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
a thing, without saying which
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
takeverbUS /teɪk/
carry out
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
takingnounUS /ˈteɪkɪŋ/
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading That was the taking of Constantinople by the Turks.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
ThereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
thirdnounUS /θɜːrd/
one of three equal parts of a divisible whole
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
TurksnounUS /tɜːrks/
plural of “turk” — a native or inhabitant of Turkey
From this reading That was the taking of Constantinople by the Turks.
understandverbUS /ˌʌndərˈstænd/
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There was a third event which added to this new life by bringing new thought and new learning to England.
wondersnounUS /ˈwʌndərz/
plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
wordnounUS /wɜːrd/
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
worldsnounUS /wɜːrldz/
plural of “world” — everything that exists anywhere
From this reading You have been told that the fifteenth century was a dull time in English literature, but that it was also a time of new action and new life, for the discovery of new worlds and the discovery of printing had opened men's eyes and minds to new wonders.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading RENAISSANCE means rebirth, and to make you understand something of what the word means in our literature I must take you a long way.
