adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
amauxiliary verbUS /æm/
the form of “be” used with “I”
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
basenounUS /beɪs/
installation from which a military force initiates operations
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
celebratedadjectiveUS /ˈseləbreɪtɪd/
widely known and esteemed
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
comeverbUS /kʌm/
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
copyingnounUS /ˈkɑːpiɪŋ/
an act of copying
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
daynounUS /deɪ/
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
delicacynounUS /ˈdeləkəsi/
the quality of being beautiful and delicate in appearance
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
doauxiliary verbUS /duː/
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
doingverbUS /ˈduːɪŋ/
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
eludedverbUS /ɪˈluːdɪd/
past form of “elude” — escape, either physically or mentally
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
fernnounUS /fɜːrn/
any of numerous flowerless and seedless vascular plants having true roots from a rhizome and fronds that uncurl upward; reproduce by spores
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sculptor stood a moment silently observing him.
hintnounUS /hɪnt/
an indirect suggestion
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
hournounUS /ˈaʊər/
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
laboriouslyadverbUS /ləˈbɔːriəsli/
in a laborious manner
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
marblenounUS /ˈmɑːrbəl/
a hard crystalline metamorphic rock that takes a high polish; used for sculpture and as building material
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
minutesnounUS /ˈmɪnəts/
a written account of what transpired at a meeting
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
momentnounUS /ˈmoʊmənt/
a particular point in time
From this reading The sculptor stood a moment silently observing him.
monumentnounUS /ˈmɑːnjuːmənt/
a structure erected to commemorate persons or events
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
observingadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvɪŋ/
quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception
From this reading The sculptor stood a moment silently observing him.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
OnepronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
onlyadverbUS /ˈoʊnli/
and nothing more
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
passablyadverbUS /ˈpæsəbli/
to certain extent or degree
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
pencilnounUS /ˈpensəl/
a thin cylindrical pointed writing implement; a rod of marking substance encased in wood
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
perfectlyadverbUS /ˈpɜːrfəktli/
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
pickedverbUS /pɪkt/
past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
Richard
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
saidadjectiveUS /sed/
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
sculptornounUS /ˈskʌlptər/
an artist who creates sculptures
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
searchverbUS /sɜːrtʃ/
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
silentlyadverbUS /ˈsaɪləntli/
without speaking
From this reading The sculptor stood a moment silently observing him.
sirnounUS /sɜːr/
term of address for a man
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
soldiersnounUS /ˈsoʊldʒərz/
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
spendverbUS /spend/
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
spraynounUS /spreɪ/
a pesticide in suspension or solution; intended for spraying
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
stoodverbUS /stʊd/
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading The sculptor stood a moment silently observing him.
stupidadjectiveUS /ˈstuːpəd/
lacking or marked by lack of intellectual acuity
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
supposeverbUS /səˈpoʊz/
express a supposition
From this reading "I suppose it is because I am stupid, sir," said Richard.
tennounUS /ten/
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
upadjectiveUS /ʌp/
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
usefuladjectiveUS /ˈjuːsfəl/
being of use or service
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
villagenounUS /ˈvɪlədʒ/
a community of people smaller than a town
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
welladverbUS /wel/
(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 "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Richard was laboriously copying a spray of fern, the delicacy of which eluded his pencil.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading One day he picked up a useful hint from a celebrated sculptor, who had come to the village in search of marble for the base of a soldiers' monument.
WhynounUS /waɪ/
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
youpronounUS /juː/
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Why do you spend an hour doing only passably well what you could do perfectly in ten minutes?"
