adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
adoptedadjectiveUS /əˈdɑːptɪd/
acquired as your own by free choice
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
aroseverbUS /ərˈoʊz/
inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading When the necessity arose he decided to supplement the art of balladmongering by that of stealing.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading When the necessity arose he decided to supplement the art of balladmongering by that of stealing.
artsnounUS /ɑːrts/
studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
awayadverbUS /əˈweɪ/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
balladmonger
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
balladmongering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When the necessity arose he decided to supplement the art of balladmongering by that of stealing.
balladsnounUS /ˈbælədz/
plural of “ballad” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
bothdeterminerUS /boʊθ/
the two together, not just one
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
businessnounUS /ˈbɪznəs/
a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
citynounUS /ˈsɪti/
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
constrainedadjectiveUS /kənˈstreɪnd/
lacking spontaneity; not natural
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
countrynounUS /ˈkʌntri/
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
decidedadjectiveUS /ˌdɪˈsaɪdɪd/
recognizable; marked
From this reading When the necessity arose he decided to supplement the art of balladmongering by that of stealing.
earningsnounUS /ˈɜːrnɪŋz/
the excess of revenues over outlays in a given period of time (including depreciation and other non-cash expenses)
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
equalverbUS /ˈiːkwəl/
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
facilitynounUS /fəˈsɪlɪti/
a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
fathernounUS /ˈfɑːðər/
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
foundverbUS /faʊnd/
set up or found
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
foundlingnounUS /ˈfaʊndlɪŋ/
a child who has been abandoned and whose parents are unknown
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
Francois
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
guitarnounUS /ɡɪˈtɑːr/
a stringed instrument usually having six strings; played by strumming or plucking
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
horsesnounUS /ˈhɔːrsəz/
plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
JeannounUS /dʒiːn/
a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
learntverbUS /lɜːrnt/
inflected form of “learn” — gain knowledge or skills
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
LikeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
lucrativeadjectiveUS /ˈluːkrətɪv/
producing a sizeable profit
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
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 Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
moreadjectiveUS /mɔːr/
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
naturenounUS /ˈneɪtʃər/
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
necessitynounUS /nəˈsesəti/
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading When the necessity arose he decided to supplement the art of balladmongering by that of stealing.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
pennounUS /pen/
a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
pickedverbUS /pɪkt/
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
pocketsnounUS /ˈpɑːkəts/
plural of “pocket” — a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
poetsnounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
professionnounUS /prəˈfeʃən/
the body of people in a learned occupation
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
profitableadjectiveUS /ˈprɑːfətəbəl/
yielding material gain or profit
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
runverbUS /rʌn/
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
sangnounUS /sæŋ/
North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
sevennounUS /ˈsevən/
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
shoe-maker
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
skilfuladjective
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
stealingnounUS /ˈstiːlɪŋ/
the act of taking something from someone unlawfully
From this reading When the necessity arose he decided to supplement the art of balladmongering by that of stealing.
stolenounUS /stoʊl/
a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
successnounUS /səkˈses/
an event that accomplishes its intended purpose
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
supplementnounUS /ˈsʌpləmənt/
textual matter that is added onto a publication; usually at the end
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
timesnounUS /taɪmz/
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
tradenounUS /treɪd/
the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
vagabondnounUS /ˈvæɡəbɑːnd/
anything that resembles a vagabond in having no fixed place
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
versenounUS /vɜːrs/
literature in metrical form
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Jean Francois was a vagabond by nature, a balladmonger by profession.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When the necessity arose he decided to supplement the art of balladmongering by that of stealing.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had run away from what had been his home at the age of seven (he was a foundling, and his adopted father was a shoe-maker), without having learnt a trade.
workverbUS /wɜːrk/
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
writingnounUS /ˈraɪtɪŋ/
the act of creating written works
From this reading Like many poets in many times, he found that the business of writing verse was more amusing than lucrative; and he was constrained to supplement the earnings of his pen and his guitar by other and more profitable work.
wroteverbUS /roʊt/
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading He was skilful in both arts: he wrote verse, sang ballads, picked pockets (in the city), and stole horses (in the country) with equal facility and success.
