aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
afflictionsnounUS /əˈflɪkʃənz/
plural of “affliction” — a state of great suffering and distress due to adversity
From this reading These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
(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 These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
any thing at all
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
BaconnounUS /ˈbeɪkən/
back and sides of a hog salted and dried or smoked; usually sliced thin and fried
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
financial assistance in time of need
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
civilizedadjectiveUS /ˈsɪvəlaɪzd/
having a high state of culture and development both social and technological
From this reading These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
climatenounUS /ˈklaɪmət/
the weather in some location averaged over some long period of time
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
comprehendverbUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhend/
get the meaning of something
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
(criminal law) an act punishable by law; usually considered an evil act
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
wanted intensely
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
diseasenounUS /dɪˈziːz/
an impairment of health or a condition of abnormal functioning
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
eradicatingverbUS /ɪˈrædəkeɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “eradicate” — kill in large numbers
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
evilsnounUS /ˈiːvəlz/
plural of “evil” — morally objectionable behavior
From this reading These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
communicated in words
From this reading I expressed my gratitude for her kindness.
extirpationnoun
surgical removal of a body part or tissue
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I expressed my gratitude for her kindness.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading I expressed my gratitude for her kindness.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading I expressed my gratitude for her kindness.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
a message received and understood
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
instructiveadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌktɪv/
serving to instruct or enlighten or inform
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
keenestadjectiveUS /ˈkiːnəst/
superlative of “keen” — having or demonstrating ability to recognize or draw fine distinctions
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic
From this reading I expressed my gratitude for her kindness.
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 These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
past form of “listen” — hear with intention
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
the force of workers available
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I expressed my gratitude for her kindness.
nationsnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
operationnounUS /ˌɑːpərˈeɪʃən/
the state of being in effect or being operative
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading I believed that I could comprehend enough of their method of extirpation to benefit my own country.
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
involving the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
Preceptress
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
prominentadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːmənənt/
having a quality that thrusts itself into attention
From this reading These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
a sudden outburst of anger
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading These two evils were the prominent afflictions of all the civilized nations I knew.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
at the time that
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There were many things about which I desired information, but particularly their method of eradicating disease and crime.
in the company of; together with
From this reading As to Physical causes, I am inclined to doubt altogether of their operation in this particular; nor do I think that men owe anything of their temper or genius to the air, food, or climate.--_Bacon._ I listened with the keenest interest to this curious and instructive history; and when the Preceptress had ceased speaking.
