adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
amusingadjectiveUS /əˈmjuːzɪŋ/
providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
audiencenounUS /ˈɑːdiəns/
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
Belinda
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
busyadjectiveUS /ˈbɪzi/
actively or fully engaged or occupied
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
ci-devant
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
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 When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
consultingverbUS /kənˈsʌltɪŋ/
-ing form of “consult” — get or ask advice from
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
CountverbUS /kaʊnt/
determine the number or amount of
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
crowdedadjectiveUS /ˈkraʊdəd/
overfilled or compacted or concentrated
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
denounUS /diː/
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/
dearly loved
From this reading “My dear Belinda!
declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/
made known or openly avowed
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
Delacour
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
engagedadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒd/
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
EvenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
fashionnounUS /ˈfæʃən/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
FrenchnounUS /frentʃ/
the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
gentlemannounUS /ˈdʒentəlmən/
a man of refinement
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
hearverbUS /hiːr/
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
herdeterminerUS /hɜːr/
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
homenounUS /hoʊm/
where you live at a particular time
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
housenounUS /haʊs/
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
judgesnounUS /ˈdʒʌdʒɪz/
a book of the Old Testament that tells the history of Israel under the leaders known as judges
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
LadynounUS /ˈleɪdi/
a polite name for any woman
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
librarynounUS /ˈlaɪbreriː/
a room where books are kept
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
literaturenounUS /ˈlɪtərətʃər/
creative writing of recognized artistic value
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
meritnounUS /ˈmerət/
any admirable quality or attribute
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
MydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading “My dear Belinda!
NnounUS /en/
a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
partynounUS /ˈpɑːrti/
an organization to gain political power
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
performedverbUS /pərˈfɔːrmd/
past form of “perform” — carry out or perform an action
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
playverbUS /pleɪ/
participate in games or sport
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
playsnounUS /pleɪz/
plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
possessedadjectiveUS /pəˈzest/
influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
ratheradverbUS /ˈræðər/
on the contrary
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
readverbUS /red/
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
readingnounUS /ˈriːdɪŋ/
the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
seeverbUS /siː/
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
singularadjectiveUS /ˈsɪŋɡjələr/
unusual or striking
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
SORTES
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SORTES VIRGILIANAE.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
talentsnounUS /ˈtælənts/
plural of “talent” — natural abilities or qualities
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
tasteverbUS /teɪst/
To perceive flavor through the mouth.
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
theatrenounUS /ˈθiːətər/
a building where theatrical performances or motion-picture shows can be presented
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
VIRGILIANAE
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SORTES VIRGILIANAE.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Even those who were not judges of his merit, and who had little taste for literature, crowded to hear him, because it was the fashion.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Lady Delacour engaged him for a reading party at her house, and he was consulting with her what play would be most amusing to his audience.
WhenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading When Belinda got home, Lady Delacour was busy in the library looking over a collection of French plays with the _ci-devant_ Count de N----; a gentleman who possessed such singular talents for reading dramatic compositions, that many people declared that they would rather hear him read a play than see it performed at the theatre.
