adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
actionnounUS /ˈækʃən/
something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
affairsnounUS /əˈferz/
matters of personal concern
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
applaudedverbUS /əˈplɔːdɪd/
past form of “applaud” — clap one's hands or shout after performances to indicate approval
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
brainsnounUS /breɪnz/
plural of “brain” — that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
bungles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
calledverbUS /kɔːld/
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
CHAPTERnounUS /ˈtʃæptər/
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
From this reading CHAPTER THE FIFTY-FIFTH.
declaredadjectiveUS /dɪˈklerd/
made known or openly avowed
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
discussionnounUS /dɪˈskʌʃən/
an extended communication (often interactive) dealing with some particular topic
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
engagedadjectiveUS /enˈɡeɪdʒd/
having ones attention or mind or energy engaged
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
epigramnounUS /ˈepəɡræm/
a witty saying
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
FIFTY-FIFTHadjective
the ordinal number of fifty-five in counting order
From this reading CHAPTER THE FIFTY-FIFTH.
followingadjectiveUS /ˈfɑːloʊɪŋ/
about to be mentioned or specified
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
FortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
goodadjectiveUS /ɡʊd/
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
gotverbUS /ɡɑːt/
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
HepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
instabilitynounUS /ˌɪnstəˈbɪlɪti/
an unstable order
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
livesnounUS /lɪvz/
plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
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 We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/
an event that occurs at a critical time
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
offadverbUS /ɔːf/
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
onceadverbUS /wʌns/
on one occasion
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
OurdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
rackingadjectiveUS /ˈrækɪŋ/
causing great physical or mental suffering
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
reasonnounUS /ˈriːzən/
a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
shouldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
sidesnounUS /saɪdz/
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
slipverbUS /slɪp/
move stealthily
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
tabletsnounUS /ˈtæbləts/
plural of “tablet” — a slab of stone or wood suitable for bearing an inscription
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading CHAPTER THE FIFTY-FIFTH.
tookverbUS /tʊk/
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
Trimalchio
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
turnverbUS /tɜːrn/
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
unexpectedadjectiveUS /ˌʌnɪkˈspektɪd/
not expected or anticipated
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We applauded his action and engaged in a discussion upon the instability of human affairs, which many took sides.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He called for his tablets at once, and after racking his brains for a little while, he got off the following:
wholeadjectiveUS /hoʊl/
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
whynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The unexpected will turn up; Our whole lives Fortune bungles up.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "A good reason," declared Trimalchio, "why such an occasion shouldn't slip by without an epigram."
