used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
admiringverbUS /ædˈmaɪrɪŋ/
-ing form of “admire” — feel admiration for
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
archwaynounUS /ˈɑːrtʃweɪ/
a passageway under a curved masonry construction
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
on or to one side
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
in a state of sleep
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
assumesverbUS /əˈsuːmz/
third-person singular of “assume” — take to be the case or to be true; accept without verification or proof
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
the time when something begins (especially life)
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
the chest considered as the place where secret thoughts are kept
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
CanalnounUS /kəˈnæl/
(astronomy) an indistinct surface feature of Mars once thought to be a system of channels; they are now believed to be an optical illusion
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
carvingnounUS /ˈkɑːrvɪŋ/
a sculpture created by removing material (as wood or ivory or stone) in order to create a desired shape
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
CenounUS /ˌsiːˈiː/
a ductile grey metallic element of the lanthanide series; used in lighter flints; the most abundant of the rare-earth group
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
cet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
rid of obstructions
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
elle
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
engourdie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
fers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
(usually followed by “with” or used as a combining form) generously supplied with
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
people in general (often used in the plural)
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
foreignernounUS /ˈfɔːrənər/
a person who comes from a foreign country; someone who does not owe allegiance to your country
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
frettedadjectiveUS /ˈfretɪd/
having frets
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
fugitif
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
fut
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
throw a glance at; take a brief look at
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
gondolanounUS /ˈɡɑːndələ/
a low flat-bottomed freight car with fixed sides but no roof
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
gondolasnounUS /ˈɡɑːndələz/
plural of “gondola” — a low flat-bottomed freight car with fixed sides but no roof
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
holidaynounUS /ˈhɑːlədeɪ/
leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
ici-bas
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
lagoonsnounUS /ləˈɡuːnz/
plural of “lagoon” — a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
laysnounUS /leɪz/
plural of “lay” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
lesnounUS /les/
plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
Malheureux
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
motleynounUS /ˈmɑːtli/
a collection containing a variety of sorts of things
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
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 "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
oû
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
pasnounUS /pɑːz/
(ballet) a step in dancing (especially in classical ballet)
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
passesnounUS /ˈpæsəz/
plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
piazzanounUS /piˈæzə/
a public square with room for pedestrians
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
qu
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
regrettez
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
sandalos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
cut with a saw
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
secoué
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
severitynounUS /sɪˈverɪti/
used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
small or little relative to something else
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
smilesnounUS /smaɪlz/
plural of “smile” — a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
the season of growth
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
plural of “stand” — a support or foundation
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
stiffenedverbUS /ˈstɪfənd/
past form of “stiffen” — become stiff or stiffer
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
not in physical motion
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
swarmedverbUS /swɔːrmd/
past form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
sweepsnounUS /swiːps/
plural of “sweep” — a wide scope
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
thoroughfaresnounUS /ˈθɜːroʊferz/
plural of “thoroughfare” — a public road from one place to another
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
toute
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
traine
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
VenicenounUS /ˈvenəs/
the provincial capital of Veneto; built on 118 islands within a lagoon in the Gulf of Venice; has canals instead of streets; one of Italy's major ports and a famous tourist attraction
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
vieverbUS /vaɪ/
compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
votre
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
in or at the place that
From this reading Before a mighty marble house which stands where one of the smaller thoroughfares sweeps its waters into the Grand Canal, a gondola has paused.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The _piazza_ was filled with a motley crowd of holiday folk, and the lagoons swarmed with a fleet of gondolas and _sandalos_.
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days
From this reading It was a wonderful morning which saw the birth of the new year in Venice,--one of those clear, bright days on which Winter lays aside all his severity and assumes the smiles of the Spring still asleep in the bosom of the stiffened earth.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading A young man, a foreigner evidently, steps from the boat and passes under the fretted archway, with an admiring glance at the beautiful carving.
âme
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Malheureux! cet instant oû votre âme engourdie A secoué les fers qu’ elle traine ici-bas, Ce fugitif instant fut toute votre vie; Ne le regrettez pas."
