used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
adversitynounUS /ədˈvɝː.sə.t̬i/
Difficulties; misfortune and hardship faced with courage.
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
anew
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
ArcadianounUS /ɑːrˈkeɪdiə/
a department of Greece in the central Peloponnese
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
Blackfriars
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
COMPOSITIONSnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃənz/
plural of “composition” — the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading COMPOSITIONS.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
demandsnounUS /dɪˈmændz/
plural of “demand” — an urgent or peremptory request
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
DRUDGERYnounUS /ˈdrʌdʒəri/
hard monotonous routine work
From this reading THEATRICAL DRUDGERY.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
emulateverbUS /ˈemjəleɪt/
strive to equal or match, especially by imitating
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
a division of the United Kingdom
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
fermentationnounUS /ˌfɜːrmənˈteɪʃən/
a state of agitation or turbulent change or development
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
with resolute determination
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
GreenenounUS /ɡriːn/
English novelist and Catholic (1904-1991)
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
immortalitynounUS /ˌɪmɔːrˈtælɪti/
the quality or state of being immortal
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
jewelnounUS /ˈdʒuːəl/
a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
KydnounUS /kɪd/
English dramatist (1558-1594)
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
LodgeverbUS /lɑːdʒ/
be a lodger; stay temporarily
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
move something or somebody to a lower position
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
MarlowenounUS /ˈmɑːrloʊ/
English poet and playwright who introduced blank verse as a form of dramatic expression; was stabbed to death in a tavern brawl (1564-1593)
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
Ovidnoun
Roman poet remembered for his elegiac verses on love (43 BC - AD 17)
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
Petrarchnoun
an Italian poet famous for love lyrics (1304-1374)
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
Englishman and husband of Elizabeth II (born 1921)
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
plantedadjectiveUS /ˈplæntɪd/
(used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
playernounUS /ˈpleɪər/
a person who participates in or is skilled at some game
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
seethingadjectiveUS /ˈsiːðɪŋ/
in constant agitation
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
Shaksperenoun
English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
SidneynounUS /ˈsɪdni/
English poet (1554-1586)
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
term of address for a man
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
skiesnounUS /skaɪz/
plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
sonnetsnounUS /ˈsɑːnɪts/
plural of “sonnet” — a verse form consisting of 14 lines with a fixed rhyme scheme
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
spurredverbUS /spɜːrd/
inflected form of “spur” — incite or stimulate
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
strollingverbUS /ˈstroʊlɪŋ/
-ing form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
surpassverbUS /sərˈpæs/
distinguish oneself
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
THEATRICALadjectiveUS /θiˈætrɪkəl/
of or relating to the theater
From this reading THEATRICAL DRUDGERY.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
toadnounUS /toʊd/
any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
the upper part of anything
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
usesnounUS /ˈjuːsəz/
plural of “use” — the act of using
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
venomousadjectiveUS /ˈvenəməs/
extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
WearsnounUS /werz/
plural of “wear” — impairment resulting from long use
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
belonging to which person
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
in the company of; together with
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading The fermentation of composition began again to work within his seething brain, and the daily demands of the Blackfriars spurred him on to emulate if not surpass Kyd, Lodge, Greene and Marlowe.
buildings for carrying on industrial labor
From this reading During the time Shakspere had been a strolling player through the middle towns of England he had studied the works of Ovid and Petrarch, and read with pleasure the sonnets and Arcadia of Sir Philip Sidney.
but in spite of that
From this reading _"Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in its head."_ Shakspere had now his foot firmly planted on the lower round of the ladder of fame, whose top leaned against the skies of immortality!
