used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
accentsnounUS /ˈæksents/
plural of “accent” — distinctive manner of oral expression
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
adjustverbUS /əˈdʒʌst/
alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
alexandrinesnounUS /ˌæləɡˈzændrinz/
plural of “alexandrine” — (prosody) a line of verse that has six iambic feet
From this reading Of triplets and alexandrines, though he did not introduce the use, he established it.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
cadencenounUS /ˈkeɪdəns/
(prosody) the accent in a metrical foot of verse
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
commonlyadverbUS /ˈkɑːmənli/
under normal conditions
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
Cowley
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Of triplets and alexandrines, though he did not introduce the use, he established it.
diversifyverbUS /daɪˈvɜːrsəfaɪ/
make (more) diverse
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
emanating from God
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
DrydennounUS /ˈdraɪdən/
the outstanding poet and dramatist of the Restoration (1631-1700)
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
brought about or set up or accepted; especially long established
From this reading Of triplets and alexandrines, though he did not introduce the use, he established it.
pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
flowingnounUS /ˈfloʊɪŋ/
the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
improvementsnounUS /ˌɪmˈpruːvmənts/
plural of “improvement” — a change for the better; progress in development
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
introduceverbUS /ˌɪntrəˈduːs/
cause to come to know personally
From this reading Of triplets and alexandrines, though he did not introduce the use, he established it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
become part of; become a member of a group or organization
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
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 Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
majestick
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
march in a procession
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
metrenounUS /ˈmiːtər/
the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
the fourth book of the Old Testament; contains a record of the number of Israelites who followed Moses out of Egypt
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
pausesnounUS /ˈpɔːzəz/
plural of “pause” — a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
preserveverbUS /prəˈzɜːrv/
keep or maintain in unaltered condition; cause to remain or last
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
resoundingadjectiveUS /riˈsaʊndɪŋ/
characterized by resonance
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
smoothnessnounUS /ˈsmuːðnəs/
a texture without roughness; smooth to the touch
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading If Cowley had sometimes a finished line, he had it by chance.
sonorousadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːnərəs/
full and loud and deep
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Of triplets and alexandrines, though he did not introduce the use, he established it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
tripletsnounUS /ˈtrɪpləts/
plural of “triplet” — the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading Of triplets and alexandrines, though he did not introduce the use, he established it.
the act of using
From this reading Of triplets and alexandrines, though he did not introduce the use, he established it.
varyverbUS /ˈveri/
become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
varyingadjectiveUS /ˈveriɪŋ/
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
literature in metrical form
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
WallernounUS /ˈwɔːlər/
United States jazz musician (1904-1943)
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Waller was smooth; but Dryden taught to join The varying verse, the full resounding line, The long majestick march, and energy divine.
the words that are spoken
From this reading Dryden knew how to choose the flowing and the sonorous words; to vary the pauses, and adjust the accents; to diversify the cadence, and yet preserve the smoothness of his metre.
but in spite of that
From this reading Some improvements had been already made in English numbers; but the full force of our language was not yet felt; the verse that was smooth was commonly feeble.
