1456
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was late in November, 1456.
adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
afternoonnounUS /ˌæftərˈnuːn/
the part of the day between noon and evening
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
airnounUS /er/
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
alternativeadjectiveUS /ɔːlˈtɜːrnətɪv/
serving or used in place of another
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
angelsnounUS /ˈeɪndʒəlz/
plural of “angel” — spiritual being attendant upon God
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
ArtsnounUS /ɑːrts/
studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
blackadjectiveUS /blæk/
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
cameverbUS /keɪm/
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
circuitousadjectiveUS /sərˈkjuːɪtəs/
marked by obliqueness or indirection in speech or conduct
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
concludeverbUS /kənˈkluːd/
decide by reasoning; draw or come to a conclusion
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
descendedverbUS /dɪˈsendəd/
past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
divinitynounUS /dɪˈvɪnəti/
any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the world or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
durst
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
eyebrowsnounUS /ˈaɪbraʊz/
plural of “eyebrow” — the arch of hair above each eye
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
fellverbUS /fel/
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
flakeverbUS /fleɪk/
form into flakes
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
flyingadjectiveUS /ˈflaɪɪŋ/
moving swiftly
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
Francis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
geesenounUS /ɡiːs/
plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
holynounUS /ˈhoʊli/
a sacred place of pilgrimage
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was late in November, 1456.
interminableadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtɜːrmənəbəl/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was late in November, 1456.
JupiternounUS /ˈdʒuːpətər/
the largest planet and the 5th from the sun; has many satellites and is one of the brightest objects in the night sky
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
lateadjectiveUS /leɪt/
being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time
From this reading It was late in November, 1456.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
lullverbUS /lʌl/
calm by deception
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
madeadjectiveUS /meɪd/
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
MasternounUS /ˈmæstər/
an artist of consummate skill
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
moistadjectiveUS /mɔɪst/
slightly wet
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
moultingnoun
periodic shedding of the cuticle in arthropods or the outer skin in reptiles
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
nightnounUS /naɪt/
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
NovembernounUS /noʊˈvembər/
the month following October and preceding December
From this reading It was late in November, 1456.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
OlympusnounUS /oʊˈlɪmpəs/
a mountain peak in northeast Greece near the Aegean coast; believed by ancient Greeks to be the dwelling place of the gods (9,570 feet high)
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
outadjectiveUS /aʊt/
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
pagannounUS /ˈpeɪɡən/
a person who does not acknowledge your god
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
ParisnounUS /ˈperɪs/
the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
persistencenounUS /pərˈsɪstəns/
the property of a continuous and connected period of time
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
pluckingverbUS /ˈplʌkɪŋ/
-ing form of “pluck” — pull or pull out sharply
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
pooradjectiveUS /puːr/
deserving or inciting pity
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
propoundedverbUS /prəˈpaʊndɪd/
past form of “propound” — put forward, as of an idea
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
questionverbUS /ˈkwestʃən/
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
relentlessadjectiveUS /rɪˈlentlɪs/
not to be placated or appeased or moved by entreaty
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
rigorousadjectiveUS /ˈrɪɡərəs/
rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
sallynounUS /ˈsæli/
witty remark
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
scatteredadjectiveUS /ˈskætərd/
occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
seemedverbUS /siːmd/
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
silentadjectiveUS /ˈsaɪlənt/
marked by absence of sound
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
snownounUS /snoʊ/
precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
sometimesadverbUS /səmˈtaɪmz/
on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
somewhatadverbUS /ˈsʌmˈwʌt/
to a small degree or extent
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
tavernnounUS /ˈtævərn/
a building with a bar that is licensed to sell alcoholic drinks
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
thereadverbUS /ðer/
in or at that place or location
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
ToparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
touchedadjectiveUS /tʌtʃt/
having come into contact
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
venturenounUS /ˈventʃər/
any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
Villonnoun
French poet (flourished around 1460)
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
vortices
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was late in November, 1456.
wentverbUS /went/
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading He was only a poor Master of Arts, he went on; and as the question somewhat touched upon divinity, he durst not venture to conclude.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
whereconjunctionUS /wer/
in or at the place that
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
windnounUS /waɪnd/
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
windownounUS /ˈwɪndoʊ/
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading Master Francis Villon had propounded an alternative that afternoon, at a tavern window: was it only pagan Jupiter plucking geese upon Olympus? or were the holy angels moulting?
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading The snow fell over Paris with rigorous, relentless persistence; sometimes the wind made a sally and scattered it in flying vortices; sometimes there was a lull, and flake after flake descended out of the black night air, silent, circuitous, interminable.
wondernounUS /ˈwʌndər/
the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising
From this reading To poor people, looking up under moist eyebrows, it seemed a wonder where it all came from.
