1758
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
allynounUS /ˈælaɪ/
a friendly nation
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
Choiseul
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
CHOISEUL'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
Comtenoun
French philosopher remembered as the founder of positivism; he also established sociology as a systematic field of study
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
direct the course of; manage or control
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
continuallyadverbUS /kənˈtɪnjuːəli/
seemingly without interruption
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
creased
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
createdverbUS /kriˈeɪtəd/
past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
daggernounUS /ˈdæɡ.ər/
A short knife with a pointed and edged blade, used as a stealth weapon.
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
defeatsnounUS /dɪˈfiːts/
plural of “defeat” — an unsuccessful ending to a struggle or contest
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
doublyadverbUS /ˈdʌbli/
to double the degree
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
DUC
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
an opposing military force
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
epigrams
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
at any time
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
hatedadjectiveUS /ˈheɪtəd/
treated with dislike or contempt
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
immaculateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmækjuːlɪt/
completely neat and clean
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
the act of caressing with the lips (or an instance thereof)
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
the sound of laughing
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
engage in
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
a person authorized to conduct religious worship
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
used to form the superlative
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
ownersnounUS /ˈoʊnərz/
plural of “owner” — (law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
parryverbUS /ˈperi/
impede the movement of (an opponent or a ball)
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
PompadournounUS /ˈpɑːmpədɔːr/
French noblewoman who was the lover of Louis XV, whose policies she influenced (1721-1764)
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
PrimeadjectiveUS /praɪm/
first in rank or degree
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
promptedverbUS /ˈprɑːmptɪd/
past form of “prompt” — give an incentive for action
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
qualifiedadjectiveUS /ˈkwɑːləfaɪd/
meeting the proper standards and requirements and training for an office or position or task
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
RECEPTIONnounUS /rɪˈsepʃən/
the manner in which something is greeted
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
rufflesnounUS /ˈrʌfəlz/
plural of “ruffle” — a strip of pleated material used as a decoration or a trim
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
severelyadverbUS /səˈvɪrli/
to a severe or serious degree
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
a fabric made from the fine threads produced by certain insect larvae
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
smittenadjectiveUS /ˈsmɪtən/
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
Stainville
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
thrustsnounUS /θrʌsts/
plural of “thrust” — the force used in pushing
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was continually fighting for his life, and he had to conduct the battle in a silk coat that must never be creased and ruffles that must ever be immaculate.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The genius that had prompted him, when Comte de Stainville, to make an ally of his enemy the Pompadour, did not desert him when, under the title of Duc de Choiseul, he was created Prime Minister in 1758.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The Comte de Stainville, now Duc de Choiseul, was well qualified, however, by nature and by training for the difficult position that he held.
at the time that
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
belonging to which person
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had to parry dagger thrusts with a smile, kiss hands whose owners he hated, laugh when most severely smitten and turn defeats into epigrams.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading THE DUC DE CHOISEUL’S RECEPTION Choiseul’s position in the world was a doubly difficult one.
