used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
alchemist's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
(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 the speakers were noble.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
any thing at all
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
assemblynounUS /əˈsembli/
a group of machine parts that fit together to form a self-contained unit
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
Benedetto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
consultverbUS /kənˈsʌlt/
get or ask advice from
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
every day; without missing a day
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
a female human offspring
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
elderlyadjectiveUS /ˈeldərli/
advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)
From this reading “Why not?” repeated Eustachio, an elderly man.
Eustachionoun
Italian anatomist who was one of the fathers of modern anatomy; noted for descriptions of the ear and the heart (1520-1574)
From this reading “Why not?” repeated Eustachio, an elderly man.
forbiddenadjectiveUS /fərˈbɪd.ən/
Not allowed; banned or prohibited by rule or law.
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading “Why not, indeed?” interrogated Leonardo, a man of mature years.
interrogatedverbUS /ˌɪnˈterəɡeɪtɪd/
past form of “interrogate” — transmit (a signal) for setting off an appropriate response, as in telecommunication
From this reading “Why not, indeed?” interrogated Leonardo, a man of mature years.
inventverbUS /ˌɪnˈvent/
come up with (an idea, plan, explanation, theory, or principle) after a mental effort
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
immediately past
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
LeonardonounUS /ˌliːəˈnɑːrdoʊ/
Italian painter and sculptor and engineer and scientist and architect; the most versatile genius of the Italian Renaissance (1452-1519)
From this reading “Why not, indeed?” interrogated Leonardo, a man of mature years.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading “Why not?” repeated Eustachio, an elderly man.
Manto
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
matureadjectiveUS /məˈtʃʊr/
characteristic of maturity
From this reading “Why not, indeed?” interrogated Leonardo, a man of mature years.
plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
nobleadjectiveUS /ˈnoʊbəl/
impressive in appearance
From this reading All the speakers were noble.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
prophetessnounUS /ˈprɑːfətəs/
a woman prophet
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
proposeverbUS /prəˈpoʊz/
make a proposal, declare a plan for something
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
questnounUS /kwest/
a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
remedynounUS /ˈremədi/
act of correcting an error or a fault or an evil
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
recurring again and again
From this reading “Why not?” repeated Eustachio, an elderly man.
SibylnounUS /ˈsɪbəl/
a woman who tells fortunes
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
speakersnounUS /ˈspiːkərz/
plural of “speaker” — someone who expresses in language; someone who talks (especially someone who delivers a public speech or someone especially garrulous)
From this reading All the speakers were noble.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading An assembly met daily in quest of a remedy, but its members were forbidden to propose anything old, and were unable to invent anything new.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
a late time of life
From this reading “Why not, indeed?” interrogated Leonardo, a man of mature years.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading “Why not consult Manto, the alchemist’s daughter, our prophetess, our Sibyl?” the young Benedetto asked at last.
