ableadjectiveUS /ˈeɪbəl/
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
agenounUS /eɪdʒ/
how long something has existed
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
AMauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
believeverbUS /bɪˈliːv/
accept as true; take to be true
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
benedictions
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
canmodal verbUS /kæn/
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
carenounUS /ker/
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
childhoodnounUS /ˈtʃaɪldhʊd/
the time of person's life when they are a child
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
childrennounUS /ˈtʃɪldrən/
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
choicenounUS /tʃɔɪs/
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
chooseverbUS /tʃuːz/
pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
continuedadjectiveUS /kənˈtɪnjuːd/
without stop or interruption
From this reading THE STORY OF IMLAC (_continued_).
dangernounUS /ˈdeɪndʒər/
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
distressnounUS /dɪˈstres/
psychological suffering
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
distributedadjectiveUS /dɪˈstrɪbjətəd/
spread out or scattered about or divided up
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
enjoyverbUS /ˌenˈdʒɔɪ/
derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
fillverbUS /fɪl/
make full, also in a metaphorical sense
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
friendsnounUS /frendz/
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
gratitudenounUS /ˈɡrætətuːd/
a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
happinessnounUS /ˈhæpinəs/
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
IMLAC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE STORY OF IMLAC (_continued_).
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
injureverbUS /ˈɪndʒər/
cause injuries or bodily harm to
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
learnedadjectiveUS /lɜːrnd/
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
mannounUS /mæn/
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
mortalsnounUS /ˈmɔːrtəlz/
plural of “mortal” — a human being
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
norconjunctionUS /nɔːr/
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
OFprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE STORY OF IMLAC (_continued_).
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
parsimoniously
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
piousadjectiveUS /ˈpaɪəs/
having or showing or expressing reverence for a deity
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
PrincenounUS /prɪns/
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
provokeverbUS /prəˈvoʊk/
call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses)
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
receivedadjectiveUS /rəˈsiːvd/
conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
relieveverbUS /rɪˈliːv/
provide physical relief, as from pain
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
repayverbUS /riˈpeɪ/
pay back
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
resentmentsnounUS /rɪˈzentmənts/
plural of “resentment” — a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
STORYnounUS /ˈstɔːri/
a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program
From this reading THE STORY OF IMLAC (_continued_).
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE STORY OF IMLAC (_continued_).
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
treacherynounUS /ˈtretʃ.ər.i/
Betrayal of trust; deceptive action or disloyalty against a host or ally.
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
unkindnessnoun
lack of sympathy
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
virtuousadjectiveUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːəs/
morally excellent
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading My children should by my care be learned and pious, and would repay to my age what their childhood had received.
wifenounUS /waɪf/
a married woman; a man's partner in marriage
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
willingadjectiveUS /ˈwɪlɪŋ/
disposed or inclined toward
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
wiseadjectiveUS /waɪz/
having or prompted by wisdom or discernment
From this reading I would choose my friends among the wise and my wife among the virtuous, and therefore should be in no danger from treachery or unkindness.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading “I AM not willing,” said the Prince, “to suppose that happiness is so parsimoniously distributed to mortals, nor can I believe but that, if I had the choice of life, I should be able to fill every day with pleasure.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading I would injure no man, and should provoke no resentments; I would relieve every distress, and should enjoy the benedictions of gratitude.
