1750
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
5
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONDON, February 5, O. S.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
alwaysadverbUS /ˈɔːlweɪz/
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading Fatal mistakes, always repented of, but always too late!
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
aptadjectiveUS /æpt/
(usually followed by “to”) naturally disposed toward
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
articlesnounUS /ˈɑːrtəkəlz/
plural of “article” — nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
beginverbUS /bɪˈɡɪn/
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Fatal mistakes, always repented of, but always too late!
DEARadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
economistnounUS /ɪˈkɑːnəmɪst/
an expert in the science of economics
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
economistsnounUS /ɪˈkɑːnəmɪsts/
plural of “economist” — an expert in the science of economics
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
enoughnounUS /ɪˈnʌf/
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
FataladjectiveUS /ˈfeɪtəl/
bringing death
From this reading Fatal mistakes, always repented of, but always too late!
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading LONDON, February 5, O. S.
fewadjectiveUS /fjuː/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
feweradjectiveUS /ˈfjuːər/
(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
fortunesnounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənz/
plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
frequentlyadverbUS /ˈfriːkwəntli/
many times at short intervals
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
FRIENDnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
heartilyadverbUS /ˈhɑːrtəli/
with gusto and without reservation
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
importantadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtənt/
of great significance or value
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading Fatal mistakes, always repented of, but always too late!
latteradjectiveUS /ˈlætər/
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
leftnounUS /left/
location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
LONDONnounUS /ˈlʌndən/
the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center
From this reading LONDON, February 5, O. S.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
mistakesnounUS /mɪˈsteɪks/
plural of “mistake” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention
From this reading Fatal mistakes, always repented of, but always too late!
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
muchadverbUS /mʌtʃ/
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
nowadverbUS /naʊ/
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
OnounUS /oʊ/
a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust
From this reading LONDON, February 5, O. S.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
pleaseverbUS /pliːz/
give pleasure to or be pleasing to
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
preciousadjectiveUS /ˈpreʃəs/
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
profusionnounUS /prəˈfjuːʒən/
the property of being extremely abundant
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
repentedverbUS /rɪˈpentɪd/
past form of “repent” — turn away from sin or do penitence
From this reading Fatal mistakes, always repented of, but always too late!
ruinousadjectiveUS /ˈruːənəs/
extremely harmful; bringing physical or financial ruin
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
SnounUS /es/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading LONDON, February 5, O. S.
seducedverbUS /sɪˈduːst/
past form of “seduce” — induce to have sex
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
seriouslyadverbUS /ˈsɪriəsli/
in a serious manner
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
squanderverbUS /ˈskwɑːndər/
spend thoughtlessly; throw away
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
thinkverbUS /θɪŋk/
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
tooadverbUS /tuː/
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Fatal mistakes, always repented of, but always too late!
twonounUS /tuː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
VeryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
wishverbUS /wɪʃ/
hope for; have a wish
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: Very few people are good economists of their fortune, and still fewer of their time; and yet of the two, the latter is the most precious.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading I heartily wish you to be a good economist of both: and you are now of an age to begin to think seriously of those two important articles.
YoungadjectiveUS /jʌŋ/
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Young people are apt to think that they have so much time before them, that they may squander what they please of it, and yet have enough left; as very great fortunes have frequently seduced people to a ruinous profusion.
