54
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
avertingnounUS /əˈvɜːrtɪŋ/
the act of preventing something from occurring
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
the people of Great Britain
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
a period of 100 years
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
contestnounUS /ˈkɑːntest/
an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
diplomacynounUS /dɪˈploʊməsi/
negotiation between nations
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
double-dealingnoun
acting in bad faith; deception by pretending to entertain one set of intentions while acting under the influence of another
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
eageradjectiveUS /ˈiːɡər/
having or showing keen interest or intense desire or impatient expectancy
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
every person
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection
From this reading THE WAR FEVER.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
plural of “hope” — a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
knotnounUS /nɑːt/
a tight cluster of people or things
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
loomedverbUS /luːmd/
past form of “loom” — come into view indistinctly, often threateningly
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
roused to anger
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
mostlyadverbUS /ˈmoʊstli/
in large part; mainly or chiefly
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
and nothing more
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
optimistsnounUS /ˈɑːptəmɪsts/
plural of “optimist” — a person disposed to take a favorable view of things
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
the state prevailing during the absence of war
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
processesnounUS /ˈprɑːsesəz/
plural of “process” — a particular course of action intended to achieve a result
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
relyingverbUS /riˈlaɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “rely” — have faith or confidence in
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
a native or inhabitant of Russia
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
sedativenounUS /ˈsedətɪv/
a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.
From this reading After half a century of peace the shadow of a great contest loomed dark and near.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
statesmennounUS /ˈsteɪtsmɪn/
plural of “statesman” — a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
not in physical motion
From this reading Everyone was mad to fight; only a few optimists, statesmen mostly, still relying on the sedative processes of diplomacy, had any hopes of averting war.
stirringnounUS /ˈstɜːrɪŋ/
agitating a liquid with an implement
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
a cutting or thrusting weapon that has a long metal blade and a hilt with a hand guard
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE WAR FEVER.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
tiredadjectiveUS /ˈtaɪərd/
depleted of strength or energy
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
From this reading THE WAR FEVER.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading They were stirring times, those early days of '54.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The whole British nation, sick and tired of Russian double-dealing, was eager to cut the knot of political difficulty with the sword.
