used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
achievementnounUS /əˈtʃiːvmənt/
the action of accomplishing something
From this reading After his first day’s achievement there followed a period of stagnation.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After his first day’s achievement there followed a period of stagnation.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was not that he did not show energy and industry.
take a court case to a higher court for review
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading On the contrary no one could have done more.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading On the contrary no one could have done more.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
day'snounUS /deɪz/
possessive form of “day” — time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading After his first day’s achievement there followed a period of stagnation.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading It was not that he did not show energy and industry.
a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading On the contrary no one could have done more.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading It was not that he did not show energy and industry.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
descend in free fall under the influence of gravity
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading After his first day’s achievement there followed a period of stagnation.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
French'snounUS /ˈfrentʃɪz/
possessive form of “french” — the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading On the contrary no one could have done more.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was not that he did not show energy and industry.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
illustrationnounUS /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən/
artwork that helps make something clear or attractive
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
industrynounUS /ˈɪndəstri/
the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise
From this reading It was not that he did not show energy and industry.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading On the contrary no one could have done more.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
not any; not one
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the contrary no one could have done more.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading On the contrary no one could have done more.
an amount of time
From this reading After his first day’s achievement there followed a period of stagnation.
preciselyadverbUS /prɪˈsaɪsli/
indicating exactness or preciseness
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
principlenounUS /ˈprɪnsəpəl/
a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
established beyond doubt
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
rapidadjectiveUS /ˈræpəd/
done or occurring in a brief period of time
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
Identical; not different.
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
the contentment one feels when one has fulfilled a desire, need, or expectation
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
self-congratulation
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
sequelnounUS /ˈsiːkwəl/
something that follows something else
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading It was not that he did not show energy and industry.
stagnationnounUS /stæɡˈneɪʃən/
a state of inactivity (in business or art etc)
From this reading After his first day’s achievement there followed a period of stagnation.
SupremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
teachesnounUS /ˈtiːtʃəz/
plural of “teach” — an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
in or at that place or location
From this reading After his first day’s achievement there followed a period of stagnation.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
experiencing or marked by or causing sadness or sorrow or discontent
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
under normal conditions
From this reading The Supreme Appeal Court Though self-congratulation is not precisely the same as pride, common experience teaches us that it is usually followed, if not by a fall, at least by a disappointment.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading French’s satisfaction at his rapid progress was no doubt natural, but its sequel proved an illustration of this unhappy principle.
