used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
ADAMSnounUS /ˈædəmz/
American Revolutionary leader and patriot; an organizer of the Boston Tea Party and signer of the Declaration of Independence (1722-1803)
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
assnounUS /æs/
the fleshy part of the human body that you sit on
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
benedictionnounUS /ˌbenəˈdɪkʃən/
the act of praying for divine protection
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
the sacred writings of the Christian religions
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
marked by strong resentment or cynicism
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
blessingnounUS /ˈblesɪŋ/
the formal act of approving
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
brays
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
comedynounUS /ˈkɑːmədi/
light and humorous drama with a happy ending
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
consequencesnounUS /ˈkɑːnsəkwensəz/
plural of “consequence” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
reach, make, or come to a decision about something
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
a legal document signed and sealed and delivered to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
destinynounUS /ˈdestəni/
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
dividesnounUS /dɪˈvaɪdz/
plural of “divide” — a serious disagreement between two groups of people (typically producing tension or hostility)
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
dumbadjectiveUS /dʌm/
slow to learn or understand; lacking intellectual acuity
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
one or the other of two
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
a social unit living together
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
a man of refinement
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
and nothing more
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
To recall to mind.
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
screwsnounUS /skruːz/
plural of “screw” — someone who guards prisoners
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
speaksverbUS /spiːks/
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
in or at that place or location
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This, one must remember in reading the chapter of this story that shall follow.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading THE ADAMS FAMILY BIBLE LIES LIKE A GENTLEMAN How light a line divides comedy from tragedy!
plural of “turn” — a circular segment of a curve
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
having or producing a comfortable and agreeable degree of heat or imparting or maintaining heat
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
at the time that
From this reading When the ass speaks, or the man brays, there is comedy.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Only the consequences of a day or a deed can decide whether it shall have the warm blessing of our smiles or the bitter benediction of our tears.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet fate may stop the mouth of either man or ass, and in the dumb struggle for voice, if fate turns the screws of destiny upon duty, there is tragedy.
