1874
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 1874.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
actornounUS /ˈæktər/
a theatrical performer
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
arduousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːrdʒuːəs/
characterized by effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
arknounUS /ɑːrk/
(Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
conventionaladjectiveUS /kənˈvenʃənəl/
following accepted customs and proprieties
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
dependverbUS /dɪˈpend/
be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
disengagedverbUS /dɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒd/
past form of “disengage” — release from something that holds fast, connects, or entangles
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
dramanounUS /ˈdrɑːmə/
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
EverydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
experimentnounUS /ɪkˈsperəmənt/
the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
fillsnounUS /fɪlz/
plural of “fill” — a quantity sufficient to satisfy
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
HAMLETnounUS /ˈhæmlət/
a community of people smaller than a village
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
interpretationnounUS /ˌɪntɜːrprɪˈteɪʃən/
a mental representation of the meaning or significance of something
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
IrvingnounUS /ˈɜːrvɪŋ/
United States writer remembered for his stories (1783-1859)
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
MACBETHnounUS /məkˈbeθ/
king of Scotland (died in 1057)
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
melodramanounUS /ˈmelədrɑːmə/
an extravagant comedy in which action is more salient than characterization
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
plural of “moment” — a particular point in time
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
OTHELLOnounUS /əˈθeloʊ/
the hero of William Shakespeare's tragedy who would not trust his wife
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
performingnounUS /pərˈfɔːrmɪŋ/
the performance of a part or role in a drama
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
regionsnounUS /ˈriːdʒənz/
plural of “region” — the extended spatial location of something
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
romanticadjectiveUS /roʊˈmæntɪk/
belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
Shakespeariannoun
a Shakespearean scholar
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
speculationsnounUS /ˌspekjəˈleɪʃənz/
plural of “speculation” — a message expressing an opinion based on incomplete evidence
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ‘HAMLET’—‘OTHELLO’—‘MACBETH’—DEATH OF ‘THE COLONEL’—‘QUEEN MARY.’
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
travelledadjectiveUS /ˈtrævəld/
familiar with many parts of the world
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Hitherto Irving had not travelled out of the regions of conventional drama, or of what might be called romantic melodrama; but he was now to lay hands on the ark, and attempt the most difficult and arduous of Shakespearian characters, Hamlet.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But now was to be made a serious experiment, on which much was to depend.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Every actor has a dream of performing the character, and fills up his disengaged moments with speculations as to the interpretation.
