Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Sir, we had a good talk.—JOHNSON.
account
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From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
affable
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From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
ago
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From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
always
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From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
ambition
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From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
assistance
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From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
bear
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/
earlier than; in front of
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
book
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From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
branches
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From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
cheer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
clear
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From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
comes
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From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
composed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
congress
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From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
corrected
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
coursenounUS /course/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
declared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
effect
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From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
errors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
excel
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From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
fact
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
fairer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
falls
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
far
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
firstnounUS /first/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
flight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
FRANKLIN
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From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
freedom
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
gay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Sir, we had a good talk.—JOHNSON.
grand
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Sir, we had a good talk.—JOHNSON.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
idle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
illustration
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
imitation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
international
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
intimates
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
JOHNSON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir, we had a good talk.—JOHNSON.
jury
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
largely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
lifenounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
Literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
longnounUS /long/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
many
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
measure
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
mustmodal verbUS /mʌst/
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
nearer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
only
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
opinion
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
original
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
other
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
Parliament
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
pat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
prepared
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
ready
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
shadownounUS /ˈʃæd.oʊ/
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
shaped
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From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
shortadjectiveUS /ʃɔrt/
brief or direct in expression
From this reading Literature in many of its branches is no other than the shadow of good talk; but the imitation falls far short of the original in life, freedom and effect.
silencenounUS /ˈsaɪ.ləns/
Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
Sir
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir, we had a good talk.—JOHNSON.
sitting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
talk
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Sir, we had a good talk.—JOHNSON.
talkers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
There
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
thoughtnounUS /thought/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Sir, we had a good talk.—JOHNSON.
welcome
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
word
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As we must account for every idle word, so we must for every idle silence.—FRANKLIN.
written
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading No measure comes before Parliament but it has been long ago prepared by the grand jury of the talkers; no book is written that has not been largely composed by their assistance.
wrongs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading There can be no fairer ambition than to excel in talk; to be affable, gay, ready, clear and welcome; to have a fact, a thought, or an illustration, pat to every subject; and not only to cheer the flight of time among our intimates, but bear our part in that great international congress, always sitting, where public wrongs are first declared, public errors first corrected, and the course of public opinion shaped, day by day, a little nearer to the right.
