used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
addressesnounUS /ˈæˈdresɪz/
plural of “address” — (computer science) the code that identifies where a piece of information is stored
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
(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 Neither are all the figures inferior and commonplace.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Neither are all the figures inferior and commonplace.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Neither are all the figures inferior and commonplace.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
beaunounUS /boʊ/
a man who is the lover of a man or woman
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
ClaynounUS /kleɪ/
a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
commonplaceadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmənpleɪs/
completely ordinary and unremarkable
From this reading Neither are all the figures inferior and commonplace.
consistsverbUS /kənˈsɪsts/
third-person singular of “consist” — originate
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
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 It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Neither are all the figures inferior and commonplace.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
HamletnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
only a very short time before
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
idealadjectiveUS /aɪˈdiːl/
conforming to an ultimate standard of perfection or excellence; embodying an ideal
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
inferioradjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈfɪriər/
of or characteristic of low rank or importance
From this reading Neither are all the figures inferior and commonplace.
a power to affect persons or events especially power based on prestige etc
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
LincolnnounUS /ˈlɪŋkən/
16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
Lincoln'snounUS /ˈlɪŋkənz/
possessive form of “lincoln” — 16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
and nothing more
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
mouldingnounUS /ˈmoʊldɪŋ/
a decorative strip used for ornamentation or finishing
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither are all the figures inferior and commonplace.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
oratornounUS /ˈɔːrətər/
a person who delivers a speech or oration
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
oratoricaladjectiveUS /ˌɔːrəˈtɔːrəkəl/
characteristic of an orator or oratory
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
in other respects or ways
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
with considerable certainty; without much doubt
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
purelyadverbUS /ˈpjʊrli/
restricted to something
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
referredverbUS /rəˈfɜːrd/
inflected form of “refer” — make reference to
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
soberer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
speechesnounUS /ˈspiːtʃəz/
plural of “speech” — the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
required or under orders
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
WebsternounUS /ˈwebstər/
English playwright (1580-1625)
From this reading The influence of Webster is apparent, in this first purely oratorical attempt of Lincoln's.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
at the time that
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
WhignounUS /wɪɡ/
a member of the political party that urged social reform in 18th and 19th century England; was the opposition party to the Tories
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading It is almost certain, too, that Henry Clay, to whom Lincoln later referred as _beau ideal_ of an orator, had a part in moulding this early manner, though this is probably less apparent here than in the later soberer addresses.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading It could hardly have been otherwise at a time when the great Whig orator was making the whole country ring with his wonderful speeches.
the words that are spoken
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But it must not be supposed that this speech consists merely of what Hamlet would call "words, words, words."
