1726
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
1727
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
AnnanounUS /ˈænə/
a former copper coin of Pakistan and India
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
a structure that allows people or vehicles to cross an obstacle such as a river or canal or railway etc.
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
determine the number or amount of
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
Courland
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
Courlanders
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
the wife of a duke or a woman holding ducal title in her own right
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
a British peer of the highest rank
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
lacking in liveliness or animation
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
dweltverbUS /dwelt/
inflected form of “dwell” — think moodily or anxiously about something
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
one or the other of two
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading To this rag of a remnant of twenty was Count Saxe's following reduced.
for a limitless time
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
Iwanowna
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
the month following May and preceding July
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
engage in
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
market-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
marryingverbUS /ˈmeriɪŋ/
-ing form of “marry” — take in marriage
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
Mitau
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But he could not swallow the pill.
under a moral obligation to do something
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
and nothing more
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
pillnounUS /pɪl/
something that resembles a tablet of medicine in shape or size
From this reading But he could not swallow the pill.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
in the near future
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
pretendedadjectiveUS /priˈtendɪd/
adopted in order to deceive
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
ragnounUS /ræɡ/
a small piece of cloth or paper
From this reading To this rag of a remnant of twenty was Count Saxe's following reduced.
rascallyadjective
playful in an appealingly bold way
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading To this rag of a remnant of twenty was Count Saxe's following reduced.
remnantnounUS /ˈremnənt/
a small part or portion that remains after the main part no longer exists
From this reading To this rag of a remnant of twenty was Count Saxe's following reduced.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
rudelyadverbUS /ˈruːdli/
in an impolite manner
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
SaxenounUS /sæks/
a French marshal who distinguished himself in the War of the Austrian Succession (1696-1750)
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
Saxe's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To this rag of a remnant of twenty was Count Saxe's following reduced.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
sluggishadjectiveUS /ˈslʌɡɪʃ/
moving slowly
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
spannedverbUS /spænd/
inflected form of “span” — to cover or extend over an area or time period
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
express in speech
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading But he could not swallow the pill.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
in or at that place or location
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading To this rag of a remnant of twenty was Count Saxe's following reduced.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
a source of difficulty
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading AN UGLY DUCHESS The town of Mitau is an ugly place, built near a dull and sluggish river, rudely spanned by a bridge of boats at the market-place.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading To this rag of a remnant of twenty was Count Saxe's following reduced.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
at the time that
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading We were in Mitau from June, 1726, when those rascally Courlanders pretended they meant to make Count Saxe Duke of Courland, until August, 1727, when we made our way out of the place--only twenty of us; and not without trouble, either, of which I shall speak presently.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The palace, however, is a fine building, and there dwelt the ugly Duchess Anna Iwanowna--bad luck forever to her!--and there could have dwelt Count Saxe if he would but have obliged the duchess by marrying her.
