used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
a small piece or quantity of something
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But so are emotions.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading But so are emotions.
exactadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzækt/
Strictly particular and correct.
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
flourishverbUS /ˈflɜːrɪʃ/
grow vigorously
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
footlightsnounUS /ˈfʊtlaɪts/
theater light at the front of a stage that illuminate the set and actors
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
giantsnounUS /ˈdʒaɪənts/
plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
a person who keeps watch over something or someone
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
not accessible to view
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
prevent from being seen or discovered
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
the emotion of great happiness
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
the sound of laughing
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
lendverbUS /lend/
bestow a quality on
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
newcomernounUS /ˈnuːkʌmər/
any new participant in some activity
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
nightlyadjectiveUS /ˈnaɪtli/
happening every night
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
orchestranounUS /ˈɔːrkəstrə/
a musical organization consisting of a group of instrumentalists including string players
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
paymentnounUS /ˈpeɪmənt/
a sum of money paid or a claim discharged
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
by chance
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
participate in games or sport
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
Propinquitynoun
the property of being close together
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
rigidadjectiveUS /ˈrɪdʒəd/
incapable of or resistant to bending
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
scandalnounUS /ˈskændəl/
disgraceful gossip about the private lives of other people
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
be seated
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But so are emotions.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
be standing; be upright
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
standardsnounUS /ˈstændərdz/
plural of “standard” — a basis for comparison; a reference point against which other things can be evaluated
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Perhaps the standards are a bit less rigid on the surface.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
twinnounUS /twɪn/
either of two offspring born at the same time from the same pregnancy
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
usheringverbUS /ˈʌʃərɪŋ/
-ing form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
whispersnounUS /ˈwɪspərz/
plural of “whisper” — speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
which person or people
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading We who sit in the orchestra of life are inclined to smile, to lend willing ear to whispers of scandal from behind the footlights.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Those twin giants, Opportunity and Propinquity, stand guard at the stage door, ushering in with a flourish each newcomer.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading They cannot be hidden as the rest of the world has learned to hide them but must be brought forth on the stage nightly that we at play may know the joy of laughter and tears for which our own lives do not exact payment.
