used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
conforming to your own liking or feelings or nature
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
ancestornounUS /ˈænsestər/
someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
ancestorsnounUS /ˈænsestərz/
plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
aussi
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
for the reason that
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
with self-possession (especially in times of stress)
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
ChinesenounUS /tʃaɪˈniːz/
any of the Sino-Tibetan languages spoken in China; regarded as dialects of a single language (even though they are mutually unintelligible) because they share an ideographic writing system
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
contemporariesnounUS /kənˈtempəreriz/
all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
cultnounUS /kʌlt/
followers of an exclusive system of beliefs and practices
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
d'Angely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
defendingadjectiveUS /dɪˈfendɪŋ/
attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
economicaladjectiveUS /ˌekəˈnɑːmɪkəl/
using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
extravagantadjectiveUS /ekˈstrævəɡənt/
unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
opinion or judgment
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
a social unit living together
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
widely known and esteemed
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
gailyadverbUS /ˈɡeɪli/
in a gay manner
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
a man of refinement
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
gildingnounUS /ˈɡɪldɪŋ/
a coating of gold or of something that looks like gold
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
gingerbreadnounUS /ˈdʒɪndʒərbred/
cake flavored with ginger
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
je
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
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 "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
used to form the superlative
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
mottonounUS /ˈmɑːtoʊ/
a favorite saying of a sect or political group
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
NenounUS /niː/
a colorless odorless gaseous element that give a red glow in a vacuum tube; one of the six inert gasses; occurs in the air in small amounts
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
one's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
and nothing more
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
originatingverbUS /ərˈɪdʒəneɪtɪŋ/
-ing form of “originate” — come into existence; take on form or shape
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
owedverbUS /oʊd/
past form of “owe” — be obliged to pay or repay
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
a male member of a royal family other than the sovereign (especially the son of a sovereign)
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
privilegenounUS /ˈprɪvlədʒ/
a special advantage or immunity or benefit not enjoyed by all
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
religiouslyadverbUS /rɪˈlɪdʒəsli/
by religion
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
retainersnounUS /rɪˈteɪnərz/
plural of “retainer” — a fee charged in advance to retain the services of someone
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
roinounUS /rɔɪ/
(corporate finance) the amount, expressed as a percentage, that is earned on a company's total capital calculated by dividing the total capital into earnings before interest, taxes, or dividends are paid
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
express in words
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
self-defencenounUS /ˌselfdɪˈfens/
the act of defending yourself
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
make (offspring) by reproduction
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
feeling a need to see others suffer
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
substitutesnounUS /ˈsʌbstətuːts/
plural of “substitute” — a person or thing that takes or can take the place of another
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
suis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
suppliedverbUS /səˈplaɪd/
inflected form of “supply” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
vicesnounUS /ˈvaɪsəz/
plural of “vice” — moral weakness
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
at the time that
From this reading When my father had been extravagant, he used to say gaily in self-defence that "one owed something to one's ancestors."
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading To be a d'Angely was a privilege, in our eyes, which not only supplied gilding for the gingerbread, but for the most economical substitutes.
which person or people
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
love unquestioningly and uncritically or to excess; venerate as an idol
From this reading But in spite of their agreeable vices, or because of them, I was brought up in the cult of ancestor worship, as religiously as if I had been Chinese.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Certainly, if it had not been for several of his ancestors, he would not have owed so much to his contemporaries.
XInounUS /ʃiː/
the cardinal number that is the sum of ten and one
From this reading "Ne roi je suis, Ne prince aussi, Je suis le Sire d'Angely," calmly remarked the gentleman of Louis XI.'s time, who became famous for hanging as many retainers as he liked, and defending his action by originating the family motto.
