1750
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
22
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading LONDON, February 22, 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 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
accordingadjectiveUS /əˈkɔːrdɪŋ/
(followed by “to”) in agreement with or accordant with
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
Ambassador'snounUS /æmˈbæsədərz/
possessive form of “ambassador” — a diplomat of the highest rank; accredited as representative from one country to another
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
cenounUS /ˌsiːˈiː/
a ductile grey metallic element of the lanthanide series; used in lighter flints; the most abundant of the rare-earth group
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
ChesterfieldnounUS /ˈtʃestərfiːld/
suave and witty English statesman remembered mostly for letters to his son (1694-1773)
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
cinoun
a unit of radioactivity equal to the amount of a radioactive isotope that decays at the rate of 37,000,000,000 disintegrations per second
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
coursenounUS /kɔːrs/
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
DEARadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
desirenounUS /dɪˈzaɪər/
the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
elegantlyadverbUS /ˈelɪɡəntliː/
with elegance; in a tastefully elegant manner
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
ExceptprepositionUS /ɪkˈsept/
apart from; not including
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
FebruarynounUS /ˈfebjəweri/
the month following January and preceding March
From this reading LONDON, February 22, O. S.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
FrenchnounUS /frentʃ/
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
FrenchmannounUS /ˈfrentʃmæn/
a person of French nationality
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
FRIENDnounUS /frend/
a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
genoun
a brittle grey crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors; occurs in germanite and argyrodite
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
generallyadverbUS /ˈdʒenərəli/
usually; as a rule
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
ginoun
a unit of magnetomotive force equal to 0.7958 ampere-turns
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
giveverbUS /ɡɪv/
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
gradationnounUS /ɡreɪˈdeɪʃən/
relative position in a graded series
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
illadjectiveUS /ɪl/
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
ItaliannounUS /ˌɪˈtæljən/
a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
ItaliansnounUS /ˌɪˈtæljənz/
plural of “italian” — a native or inhabitant of Italy
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
knewverbUS /nuː/
inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
ladiesnounUS /ˈleɪdiz/
plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
languagenounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒ/
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
letternounUS /ˈletər/
a written message addressed to a person or organization
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
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 22, O. S.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
masternounUS /ˈmæstər/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
meansnounUS /miːnz/
thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
MYdeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
neveradverbUS /ˈnevər/
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
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 22, O. S.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
pleasingadjectiveUS /ˈpliːzɪŋ/
giving pleasure and satisfaction
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
progressnounUS /ˈprɑːɡres/
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
pronounceverbUS /prəˈnaʊns/
speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
RomanadjectiveUS /ˈroʊmən/
relating to or characteristic of people of Rome
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
SnounUS /es/
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading LONDON, February 22, O. S.
satisfiedadjectiveUS /ˈsætəsfaɪd/
filled with satisfaction
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔːrt/
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
speakverbUS /spiːk/
express in speech
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
speakingnounUS /ˈspiːkɪŋ/
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
spokenounUS /spoʊk/
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading Except at the French Ambassador's, I believe you hear only Italian spoke; for the Italians speak very little French, and that little generally very ill.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
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: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Your desire of pleasing the Roman ladies will of course give you not only the desire, but the means of speaking to them elegantly in their own language.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
welladverbUS /wel/
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The French are even with them, and generally speak Italian as ill; for I never knew a Frenchman in my life who could pronounce the Italian ce, ci, or ge, gi.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
yourdeterminerUS /jɔːr/
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading 1750 MY DEAR FRIEND: If the Italian of your letter to Lady Chesterfield was all your own, I am very well satisfied with the progress which you have made in that language in so short a time; according to that gradation, you will, in a very little time more, be master of it.
