used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
admonishverbUS /ædˈmɑːnɪʃ/
advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior
From this reading But it is in vain to admonish.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
answerableadjectiveUS /ˈænsərəbəl/
capable of being answered
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The piece, we understand, has since been withdrawn.
(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
classicaladjectiveUS /ˈklæsɪkəl/
of or relating to the first significant period of a civilization, culture, area of study, etc.
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
comedynounUS /ˈkɑːmədi/
light and humorous drama with a happy ending
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
comparedverbUS /kəmˈperd/
past form of “compare” — examine and note the similarities or differences of
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
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 But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The piece, we understand, has since been withdrawn.
humours
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading But it is in vain to admonish.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
the sound of laughing
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
legitimateadjectiveUS /ləˈdʒɪtəmət/
of marriages and offspring; recognized as lawful
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
MusenounUS /mjuːz/
in ancient Greek mythology any of 9 daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne; protector of an art or science
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
a message that seems to convey no meaning
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
OperanounUS /ˈɑːprə/
a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
a separate part of a whole
From this reading The piece, we understand, has since been withdrawn.
plotnounUS /plɑːt/
a secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal)
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
punchverbUS /pʌntʃ/
deliver a quick blow to
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
puppet-shew
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The piece, we understand, has since been withdrawn.
sterlingadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrlɪŋ/
highest in quality
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading The piece, we understand, has since been withdrawn.
characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
From this reading But it is in vain to admonish.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was a good deal of laughing, and it is better to laugh at nonsense than at nothing.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading The piece, we understand, has since been withdrawn.
weeklynounUS /ˈwiːkli/
a periodical that is published every week (or 52 issues per year)
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter
From this reading Such is the plot, and the wit is answerable to it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But really the humours of punch and the puppet-shew are sterling, legitimate, classical comedy, compared with the stuff of which the Muse of the new English Opera is weekly delivered.
withdrawnadjectiveUS /wɪθˈdrɔːn/
withdrawn from society; seeking solitude
From this reading The piece, we understand, has since been withdrawn.
