used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
abstractverbUS /æbˈstrækt/
consider a concept without thinking of a specific example; consider abstractly or theoretically
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
boardsnounUS /bɔːrdz/
(used in the plural) the stage of a theater
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
Bound written or printed works.
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
persuaded of; very sure
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
characterized by great determination
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
zealous in devotion or affection
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
epiloguenounUS /ˈepəlɔːɡ/
a short speech (often in verse) addressed directly to the audience by an actor at the end of a play
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
exaggerationnounUS /ɪɡˌzædʒərˈeɪʃən/
extravagant exaggeration
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
a statement that makes something comprehensible by describing the relevant structure or operation or circumstances etc.
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
GidenounUS /ʒiːd/
French author and dramatist who is regarded as the father of modern French literature (1869-1951)
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
Illbound
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
innumerableadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnuːmərəbəl/
too numerous to be counted
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
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 This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
marionettes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
used to form the superlative
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
the local environment
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
performancesnounUS /pərˈfɔːrmənsəz/
plural of “performance” — a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
participate in games or sport
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
PrometheusnounUS /prəˈmiːθiːəs/
(Greek mythology) the Titan who stole fire from Olympus and gave it to mankind; Zeus punished him by chaining him to a rock where an eagle gnawed at his liver until Hercules rescued him
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
plural of “say” — the chance to speak
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
the unlimited expanse in which everything is located
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
any distinct time period in a sequence of events
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
in or at that place or location
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
truthsnounUS /truːθs/
plural of “truth” — a fact that has been verified
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
universenounUS /ˈjuːnəvɜːrs/
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
voluptuousadjectiveUS /vəˈlʌptʃəwəs/
having strong sexual appeal
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading And there we play our parts like determined, convinced, devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading This is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of Gide.
in the company of; together with
From this reading “Time and space are the boards, which, with the help of our minds, have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The work of art is the exaggeration of an idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the “Prometheus Illbound.”
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading His world is a world of abstract ideas, under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes.
