used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
(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 He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
antagonistnounUS /ænˈtæɡənəst/
someone who offers opposition
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
bearsnounUS /berz/
plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading He speaks and thinks plain, broad, downright English.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
clearnessnounUS /ˈklɪrnəs/
free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
comparisonsnounUS /kəmˈperəsənz/
plural of “comparison” — the act of examining resemblances
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading He is a kind of _fourth estate_ in the politics of the country.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
DefoenounUS /dɪˈfoʊ/
English writer remembered particularly for his novel about Robinson Crusoe (1660-1731)
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
a statement that represents something in words
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
downrightadverbUS /ˈdaʊnraɪt/
thoroughgoing
From this reading He speaks and thinks plain, broad, downright English.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading He speaks and thinks plain, broad, downright English.
everything you own; all of your assets (whether real property or personal property) and liabilities
From this reading He is a kind of _fourth estate_ in the politics of the country.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
following the third position; number four in a countable series
From this reading He is a kind of _fourth estate_ in the politics of the country.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
impertinentadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrtənənt/
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He is a kind of _fourth estate_ in the politics of the country.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior
From this reading He is a kind of _fourth estate_ in the politics of the country.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
laysnounUS /leɪz/
plural of “lay” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
Mandeville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
naturalnessnoun
the quality of being natural or based on natural principles
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
and nothing more
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
oratornounUS /ˈɔːrətər/
a person who delivers a speech or oration
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
ParliamentnounUS /ˈpɑːrləmənt/
a legislative assembly in certain countries
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
picturesqueadjectiveUS /ˈpɪktʃərəsk/
suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading He speaks and thinks plain, broad, downright English.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
politicsnounUS /ˈpɑːlətɪks/
social relations involving intrigue to gain authority or power
From this reading He is a kind of _fourth estate_ in the politics of the country.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
satiricaladjectiveUS /səˈtɪrəkəl/
exposing human folly to ridicule
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
being or characteristic of a single thing or person
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
speaksverbUS /spiːks/
third-person singular of “speak” — express in speech
From this reading He speaks and thinks plain, broad, downright English.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
moving very fast
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking
From this reading He speaks and thinks plain, broad, downright English.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
unquestionablyadverbUS /ənˈkwestʃənəbli/
without question
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
From this reading He is too much for any single newspaper antagonist; ‘lays waste’ a city orator or Member of Parliament, and bears hard upon the Government itself.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He might be said to have the clearness of Swift, the naturalness of Defoe, and the picturesque satirical description of Mandeville; if all such comparisons were not impertinent.
writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
writersnounUS /ˈraɪtərz/
plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)
From this reading He is not only unquestionably the most powerful political writer of the present day, but one of the best writers in the language.
