used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
the state of being absent
From this reading Secondly, as to the absence of the comic element.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading First, as to the writing.
a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
Boucicault's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
plural of “character” — an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
comicadjectiveUS /ˈkɑːmɪk/
arousing or provoking laughter
From this reading Secondly, as to the absence of the comic element.
dialoguenounUS /ˈdaɪəlɔːɡ/
a conversation between two persons
From this reading The dialogue seems to be exactly what is wanted.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
put on clothes
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
effectiveadjectiveUS /ɪˈfektɪv/
producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading Secondly, as to the absence of the comic element.
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading The dialogue seems to be exactly what is wanted.
FirstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading First, as to the writing.
homelyadjectiveUS /ˈhoʊmli/
lacking in physical beauty or proportion
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
inconsistentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈsɪstənt/
displaying a lack of consistency
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The dialogue seems to be exactly what is wanted.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Secondly, as to the absence of the comic element.
many times at short intervals
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
ruggednessnoun
the property of being big and strong
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
SecondlyadverbUS /ˈsekəndli/
in the second place
From this reading Secondly, as to the absence of the comic element.
third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The dialogue seems to be exactly what is wanted.
simplicitynounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/
the quality of being simple or uncompounded
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
express in speech
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
straight-to-the-purpose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
terseadjectiveUS /tɜːrs/
brief and to the point; effectively cut short
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading First, as to the writing.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading First, as to the writing.
precisely as stated
From this reading Its simplicity (particularly in Mr. Boucicault's part) is often very effective; and throughout there is an honest, straight-to-the-purpose ruggedness in it, like the real life and the real people.
desired or wished for or sought
From this reading The dialogue seems to be exactly what is wanted.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading The dialogue seems to be exactly what is wanted.
in the company of; together with
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If the characters did not speak in a terse and homely way, their idea and language would be inconsistent with their dress and station, and they would lose, as characters, before the audience.
the act of creating written works
From this reading First, as to the writing.
