Chapter I

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

later than; following

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

in the past

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

plural of “amateur” — someone who pursues a study or sport as a pastime

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

for the reason that

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

(of a surface) not written or printed on

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

ruined by overcooking

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

one who is the object of choice; who is given preference

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

without stop or interruption

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

United States neurologist noted for his study of the brain and pituitary gland and who identified Cushing's syndrome (1869-1939)

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

with intention; in an intentional manner

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

issue commands or orders for

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

creating or arousing excitement

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

normal use of the faculty of vision

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

past form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

past form of “found” — set up or found

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

(Roman Catholic Church) a church father known for his constant fight against perceived heresies; a saint and Doctor of the Church (329-391)

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

from this time forth; from now on

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

having services engaged for a fee

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

people of Ireland or of Irish extraction

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

a unit of electrical energy equal to the work done when a current of one ampere passes through a resistance of one ohm for one second

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

and nothing more

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

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 Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

a change of position that does not entail a change of location

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

not any; not one

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

ordinary writing as distinguished from verse

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

Rhodesian statesman who declared independence of Zimbabwe from Great Britain (born in 1919)

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

a group of soldiers

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

a base containing nitrogen that is found in RNA (but not in DNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

the quality of lacking general approval or acceptance

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

literature in metrical form

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Besides, it was exciting to discover, after the unpopularity of blank verse, what one could do with three Plays written in prose and founded on three public interests deliberately chosen,--religion, humour, patriotism.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

in the company of; together with

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Our Irish Dramatic movement was just passing out of the hands of English Actors, hired because we knew of no Irish ones, and our little troop of Irish amateurs--as they were at the time--could not have too many Plays, for they would come to nothing without continued playing.

produce a literary work

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading My eyesight had become so bad that I feared I could henceforth write nothing with my own hands but verses, which, as Theophile Gautier has said, can be written with a burnt match.

a late time of life

From this reading About seven years ago I began to dictate the first of these Plays to Lady Gregory.