adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
acrossprepositionUS /əˈkrɔːs/
from one side of something to the other
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
AmericanounUS /əˈmerəkə/
North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
AmericannounUS /əˈmerəkən/
a native or inhabitant of the United States
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
AtlanticnounUS /ətˈlæntɪk/
the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
booksnounUS /bʊks/
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
broughtverbUS /brɔːt/
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
citizensnounUS /ˈsɪtəzənz/
plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
colonistsnounUS /ˈkɑːlənɪsts/
plural of “colonist” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
converseverbUS /ˈkɑːnvərs/
carry on a conversation
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
diedverbUS /daɪd/
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
EnglandnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlənd/
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
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 RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
EnglishmennounUS /ˌeŋˈlɪʃmən/
plural of “englishman” — a man who is a native or inhabitant of England
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
establishedadjectiveUS /ɪˈstæblɪʃt/
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
fournounUS /fɔːr/
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
goesnounUS /ɡoʊz/
plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
independentadjectiveUS /ˌɪndɪˈpendənt/
free from external control and constraint
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
knownadjectiveUS /noʊn/
apprehended with certainty
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
knowsnounUS /noʊz/
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
landedadjectiveUS /ˈlændəd/
owning or consisting of land or real estate
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
languagenounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
LITERATUREnounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
modesnounUS /moʊdz/
plural of “mode” — how something is done or how it happens
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
neitherdeterminerUS /ˈniːðər/
not one and not the other of two
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
permanentadjectiveUS /ˈpɜːrmənənt/
continuing or enduring without marked change in status or condition or place
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
PilgrimsnounUS /ˈpɪlɡrəmz/
plural of “pilgrim” — someone who journeys in foreign lands
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
PlymouthnounUS /ˈplɪməθ/
a town in Massachusetts founded by Pilgrims in 1620
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
producedverbUS /prəˈduːst/
past form of “produce” — bring forth or yield
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
RELATIONnounUS /riˈleɪʃən/
an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
settlementnounUS /ˈsetəlmənt/
a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
ShakespearenounUS /ˈʃeɪkspiːr/
English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
sonsnounUS /sʌnz/
plural of “son” — a male human offspring
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
StatesnounUS /steɪts/
plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
thoughtnounUS /θɔːt/
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
TOparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
UnitedadjectiveUS /juːˈnaɪtɪd/
characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity
From this reading RELATION TO ENGLISH LITERATURE.--The literature produced in that part of America known as the United States did not begin as an independent literature.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When an American goes to Paris he can neither read the books, nor converse with the citizens, if he knows no language but his own.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The early colonists were Englishmen who brought with them their own language, books, and modes of thought.
world-famous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading England had a world-famous literature before her sons established a permanent settlement across the Atlantic.
yearsnounUS /jɪrz/
a late time of life
From this reading Shakespeare had died four years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.
