adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
acquiescencenounUS /ˌækwiˈesəns/
acceptance without protest
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
anotherdeterminerUS /əˈnʌðər/
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
anyadjectiveUS /ˈeni/
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
authoritynounUS /əˈθɔːrəti/
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
bushelnounUS /ˈbʊʃəl/
a United States dry measure equal to 4 pecks or 2152.42 cubic inches
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
Circumlocutionnoun
a style that involves indirect ways of expressing things
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
correspondencenounUS /ˌkɔːrəˈspɑːndəns/
communication by the exchange of letters
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
DepartmentnounUS /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/
a specialized division of a large organization
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
discoveredadjectiveUS /dɪˈskʌvərd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
doneadjectiveUS /dʌn/
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
equallyadverbUS /ˈiːkwəli/
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
everybodypronounUS /ˈevribɑːdi/
every person
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
expressverbUS /ɪkˈspres/
give expression to
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
family-vault
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
fingerverbUS /ˈfɪŋɡər/
feel or handle with the fingers
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
GovernmentnounUS /ˈɡʌvərmənt/
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
GunpowdernounUS /ˈɡʌnpaʊdər/
a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
halfadjectiveUS /hæf/
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
importantadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɔːrtənt/
of great significance or value
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
impossibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɑːsəbəl/
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
ItsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
justifiedadjectiveUS /ˈdʒʌstəfaɪd/
having words so spaced that lines have straight even margins
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
kindadjectiveUS /kaɪnd/
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
knowsnounUS /noʊz/
plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
largestadjectiveUS /ˈlɑːrdʒəst/
superlative of “large” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
lightingnounUS /ˈlaɪtɪŋ/
having abundant light or illumination
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
matchverbUS /mætʃ/
be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
memorandanounUS /ˌmemərˈændə/
a written proposal or reminder
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
NodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
nobodypronounUS /ˈnoʊbɑːdiː/
no person; not anyone
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
OfficenounUS /ˈɔːfɪs/
place of business where professional or clerical duties are performed
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
officialadjectiveUS /əˈfɪʃəl/
having official authority or sanction
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
parliamentnounUS /ˈpɑːrləmənt/
a legislative assembly in certain countries
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
partnounUS /pɑːrt/
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
pienounUS /paɪ/
dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
plainest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
PlotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
possiblyadverbUS /ˈpɑːsəbli/
by chance
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
publicnounUS /ˈpʌblɪk/
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
rightadverbUS /raɪt/
precisely, exactly
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
sacksnounUS /sæks/
plural of “sack” — a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
savingnounUS /ˈseɪvɪŋ/
an act of economizing; reduction in cost
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
scorenounUS /skɔːr/
a number or letter indicating quality (especially of a student's performance)
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
severaladjectiveUS /ˈsevrəl/
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
smallestadjectiveUS /ˈsmɔːləst/
superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
tartadjectiveUS /tɑːrt/
tasting sour like a lemon
From this reading Its finger was in the largest public pie, and in the smallest public tart.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
timenounUS /taɪm/
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading No public business of any kind could possibly be done at any time without the acquiescence of the Circumlocution Office.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
toldverbUS /toʊld/
inflected form of “tell” — express in words
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
undoverbUS /ənˈduː/
cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
ungrammaticaladjective
not grammatical; not conforming to the rules of grammar or accepted usage
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading The Circumlocution Office was (as everybody knows without being told) the most important Department under Government.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If another Gunpowder Plot had been discovered half an hour before the lighting of the match, nobody would have been justified in saving the parliament until there had been half a score of boards, half a bushel of minutes, several sacks of official memoranda, and a family-vault full of ungrammatical correspondence, on the part of the Circumlocution Office.
wrongadjectiveUS /rɔːŋ/
not correct; not in conformity with fact or truth
From this reading It was equally impossible to do the plainest right and to undo the plainest wrong without the express authority of the Circumlocution Office.
