used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
actuatedadjective
moved to action
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
a proposal for an appropriate course of action
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
(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 "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
any thing at all
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
Cardonnet's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
a young person of either sex
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
citizensnounUS /ˈsɪtəzənz/
plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
an assertion of a right (as to money or property)
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
freedom from doubt; belief in yourself and your abilities
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
very opposed in nature or character or purpose
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
EmilenounUS /eɪˈmiːl/
the boy whose upbringing was described by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
an item of information that is typical of a class or group
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
undergo or live through a difficult experience
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
usually; as a rule
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
heatedadjectiveUS /ˈhiːtəd/
made warm or hot (“het” is a dialectal variant of “heated”)
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
impertinentadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpɜːrtənənt/
characterized by a lightly pert and exuberant quality
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
instinctsnounUS /ˈɪnstɪŋkts/
plural of “instinct” — inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
instructionnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃən/
a message describing how something is to be done
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
intentionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈtentʃənz/
plural of “intention” — an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
ironynounUS /ˈaɪrəni/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
immediately past
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
feeling or showing love and affection
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
used as a French courtesy title; equivalent to English “Mr”
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
and nothing more
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
ostentationnounUS /ˌɔːstenˈteɪʃən/
a gaudy outward display
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
persistentadjectiveUS /pərˈsɪstənt/
never-ceasing
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
practiseverbUS /ˈpræktɪs/
engage in a rehearsal
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
preachverbUS /priːtʃ/
deliver a sermon
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
a feeling of self-respect and personal worth
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
satirenounUS /ˈsætaɪər/
witty language used to convey insults or scorn
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
shaftnounUS /ʃæft/
a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
the utterance of intelligible speech
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
studentsnounUS /ˈstuːdənts/
plural of “student” — a learner who is enrolled in an educational institution
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
carry out
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading I do not claim to be anything more than a child and do not pride myself on any experience I may have had.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
in or at that place or location
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading "All this may be true, generally speaking," said Emile, heated by Monsieur Cardonnet's persistent irony.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
which person or people
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
in the company of; together with
From this reading On the contrary, I come with respect and confidence, actuated only by good instincts and good intentions, to ask you for the truth, for advice, example, assistance and instruction.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "There are old citizens who, like you, father, practise virtue without ostentation, and there may be impertinent students who preach it without loving it and, as it were, without knowing what it is.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
belonging to the person or people being spoken to
From this reading But your last shaft of satire I can not take to my own account or that of my young friends.
