used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading He was not allowed to speak because his writing spoke for him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
BabylonnounUS /ˈbæbəlɑːn/
the chief city of ancient Mesopotamia and capital of the ancient kingdom of Babylonia
From this reading Such was the law of Babylon.
for the reason that
From this reading He was not allowed to speak because his writing spoke for him.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
something that interests you because it is important or affects you
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
condemnedverbUS /kənˈdemd/
past form of “condemn” — express strong disapproval of
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
confinedadjectiveUS /kənˈfaɪnd/
not invading healthy tissue
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
enviousadjectiveUS /ˈenviəs/
showing extreme cupidity; painfully desirous of another's advantages
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
the act of departing
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
responsible for or chargeable with a reprehensible act
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
inexpressibleadjective
defying expression
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
a polite name for any woman
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
the collection of rules imposed by authority
From this reading Such was the law of Babylon.
characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
inflected form of “permit” — consent to, give permission
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
get something; come into possession of
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
a string of words satisfying the grammatical rules of a language
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
in the near future
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
express in speech
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading He was not allowed to speak because his writing spoke for him.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such was the law of Babylon.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
treasonnounUS /ˈtriːzən/
a crime that undermines the offender's government
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
the act of testing something
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
a numerical quantity measured or assigned or computed
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As he was going to receive his sentence, the envious man threw himself in his way and told him with a loud voice that his verses were good for nothing.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading His trial was soon finished, without his being permitted to speak for himself.
the act of creating written works
From this reading He was not allowed to speak because his writing spoke for him.
Zadig
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Zadig did not value himself on being a good poet; but it filled him with inexpressible concern to find that he was condemned for high treason; and that the fair lady and his two friends were confined in prison for a crime of which they were not guilty.
