used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
ablazeadjectiveUS /əˈbleɪz/
keenly excited (especially sexually) or indicating excitement
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Whither, whither art thou fleeting?
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
baysnounUS /beɪz/
plural of “bay” — an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
Bess's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
BonapartenounUS /ˈboʊnəpɑːrt/
French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
BRIGHTLYadverbUS /ˈbraɪtli/
with brightness
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
BritainnounUS /ˈbrɪtən/
a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; “Great Britain” is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
Britain'snounUS /ˈbrɪtənz/
possessive form of “britain” — a monarchy in northwestern Europe occupying most of the British Isles; divided into England and Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland; “Great Britain” is often used loosely to refer to the United Kingdom
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
a young person of either sex
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
dawnsnounUS /dɔːnz/
plural of “dawn” — the first light of day
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
Didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
eminencenounUS /ˈemənəns/
high status importance owing to marked superiority
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
fleetingadjectiveUS /ˈfliːtɪŋ/
lasting for a markedly brief time
From this reading Whither, whither art thou fleeting?
George'snounUS /ˈdʒɔːrdʒəz/
possessive form of “george” — Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
having or deserving or conferring glory
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
greetingnounUS /ˈɡriːtɪŋ/
(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
itchverbUS /ɪtʃ/
scrape or rub as if to relieve itching
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
JoyousadjectiveUS /ˈdʒɔɪəs/
full of or characterized by joy
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
legislativeadjectiveUS /ˈledʒəsleɪtɪv/
relating to a legislature or composed of members of a legislature
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
MADRIGALverbUS /ˈmædrəɡəl/
sing madrigals
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
full of or showing high-spirited merriment
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
not any; not one
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
not one thing; not anything
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
unique or specific to a person or thing or category
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
PEERSnounUS /pɪrz/
plural of “peer” — a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
pretencenoun
a false or unsupportable quality
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
proudestadjectiveUS /ˈpraʊdəst/
superlative of “proud” — feeling self-respect or pleasure in something by which you measure your self-worth; or being a reason for pride
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
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 THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
raysnounUS /reɪz/
plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
ruledadjectiveUS /ruːld/
subject to a ruling authority
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
scholarshipnounUS /ˈskɑːlərʃɪp/
financial aid provided to a student on the basis of academic merit
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
shineverbUS /ʃaɪn/
be bright by reflecting or casting light
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
statesmennounUS /ˈsteɪtsmɪn/
plural of “statesman” — a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
sublimeadjectiveUS /səˈblaɪm/
inspiring awe
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
express in words
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
an old word for “you”, as the object, speaking to one person
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
an old word for “you”, as the subject, speaking to one person
From this reading Whither, whither art thou fleeting?
thrashedverbUS /θræʃt/
past form of “thrash” — give a thrashing to; beat hard
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
precisely as stated
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed
From this reading A MERRY MADRIGAL BRIGHTLY dawns our wedding day; Joyous hour, we give thee greeting!
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
WellingtonnounUS /ˈwelɪŋtən/
British general and statesman; he defeated Napoleon at Waterloo; subsequently served as Prime Minister (1769-1852)
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
at the time that
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
an old word meaning “to where”
From this reading Whither, whither art thou fleeting?
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
in the company of; together with
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
withholdsverbUS /ˈwɪθhoʊldz/
third-person singular of “withhold” — hold back; refuse to hand over or share
From this reading And while the House of Peers withholds Its legislative hand, And noble statesmen do not itch To interfere with matters which They do not understand, As bright will shine Great Britain’s rays, As in King George’s glorious days!
the basic unit of money in South Korea
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading When Wellington thrashed Bonaparte, As every child can tell, The House of Peers, throughout the war, Did nothing in particular, And did it very well; Yet Britain set the world ablaze In good King George’s glorious days!
but in spite of that
From this reading THE HOUSE OF PEERS WHEN Britain really ruled the waves— (In good Queen Bess’s time) The House of Peers made no pretence To intellectual eminence, Or scholarship sublime; Yet Britain won her proudest bays In good Queen Bess’s glorious days!
