used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE.
plural of “age” — how long something has existed
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
the event consisting of the start of something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
blowsnounUS /bloʊz/
plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
CardinalnounUS /ˈkɑːrdənəl/
(Roman Catholic Church) one of a group of more than 100 prominent bishops in the Sacred College who advise the Pope and elect new Popes
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
causesnounUS /ˈkɑːzəz/
plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
a period of 100 years
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
constituteverbUS /ˈkɑːnstətuːt/
form or compose
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
despoticadjectiveUS /dɪˈspɑːtɪk/
belonging to or having the characteristics of a despot
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
destinedadjectiveUS /ˈdestɪnd/
headed or intending to head in a certain direction; often used as a combining form as in “college-bound students”
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
effectedadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪd/
settled securely and unconditionally
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
eighteenthadjectiveUS /eɪˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the seventeenth in position
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
eranounUS /ˈerə/
a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
exhaling
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
fillernounUS /ˈfɪlər/
used for filling cracks or holes in a surface
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
depressingly dark
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
implacableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈplækəbəl/
incapable of being placated
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
plural of “king” — a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
immediately past
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
minister'snounUS /ˈmɪnɪstərz/
possessive form of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
outsetnounUS /ˈaʊtset/
the time at which something is supposed to begin
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
an amount of time
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
possession of controlling influence
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
reactionnounUS /riˈækʃən/
(chemistry) a process in which one or more substances are changed into others
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
recurring again and again
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
RichelieunounUS /ˈrɪʃəluː/
French prelate and statesman; principal minister to Louis XIII (1585-1642)
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
sappedverbUS /sæpt/
inflected form of “sap” — deplete
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
seventeenthadjectiveUS /ˈsevənˈtiːnθ/
coming next after the sixteenth in position
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
marked by absence of sound
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
spectaclenounUS /ˈspektəkəl/
something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
splendidlyadverbUS /ˈsplendədli/
extremely well
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
suspectingverbUS /səˈspektɪŋ/
-ing form of “suspect” — imagine to be the case or true or probable
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE BEGINNING OF THE ADVENTURE.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
thinkersnounUS /ˈθɪŋkərz/
plural of “thinker” — an important intellectual
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
transitionnounUS /trænˈzɪʃən/
the act of passing from one state or place to the next
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
UnderprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
unitynounUS /ˈjuːnəti/
an undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting
From this reading Under the repeated blows of the implacable Cardinal de Richelieu, that gloomy filler of the unity of the despotic power of kings, an immense reaction had been effected in ideas.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The seventeenth century was a period of transition between the middle ages, that were exhaling their last sigh, and the modern era, which the great thinkers of the eighteenth century were destined to constitute so splendidly.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading It was a silent reaction, that from the outset sapped the minister's work, and he was far from suspecting its causes or power.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading It was more especially in the latter half of the seventeenth century that the world offered a strange spectacle.
