AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/
(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 As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
almostadverbUS /ˈɔːlmoʊst/
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
AsconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
cheerfulnessnounUS /ˈtʃɪrfəlnəs/
the quality of being cheerful and dispelling gloom
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
circumstancenounUS /ˈsɜːrkəmstæns/
a condition that accompanies or influences some event or activity
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
consistingverbUS /kənˈsɪstɪŋ/
-ing form of “consist” — originate
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
constitutionnounUS /ˌkɑːnstəˈtuːʃən/
law determining the fundamental political principles of a government
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
conveniencies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
daysnounUS /deɪz/
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
dependsverbUS /dɪˈpendz/
third-person singular of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
equalverbUS /ˈiːkwəl/
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
farmersnounUS /ˈfɑːrmərz/
plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
festivalsnounUS /ˈfestəvəlz/
plural of “festival” — a day or period of time set aside for feasting and celebration
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
fortunenounUS /ˈfɔːrtʃən/
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
frugaladjectiveUS /ˈfruːɡəl/
avoiding waste
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
grantverbUS /ɡrænt/
let have
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
groundsnounUS /ɡraʊndz/
your basis for belief or disbelief; knowledge on which to base belief
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
habitnounUS /ˈhæbət/
an established custom
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
happinessnounUS /ˈhæpinəs/
state of well-being characterized by emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
humblestadjectiveUS /ˈhʌmbələst/
superlative of “humble” — low or inferior in station or quality
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
idlenessnounUS /ˈaɪdəlnəs/
having no employment
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
intervalsnounUS /ˈɪntərvəlz/
plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
knewverbUS /nuː/
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 Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
labournounUS /ˈleɪbər/
a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
mannersnounUS /ˈmænərz/
social deportment
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
neighbourhoodnounUS /ˈneɪbərhʊd/
a surrounding or nearby region
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
observedadjectiveUS /əbˈzɜːrvd/
discovered or determined by scientific observation
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
opulencenounUS /ˈɑːpjələns/
wealth as evidenced by sumptuous living
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
ourdeterminerUS /ˈaʊər/
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
ownverbUS /oʊn/
have ownership or possession of
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
placenounUS /pleɪs/
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
pleasurenounUS /ˈpleʒər/
a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
politeadjectiveUS /pəˈlaɪt/
showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
povertynounUS /ˈpɑːvərti/
the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
primaevaladjective
having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
proofnounUS /pruːf/
any factual evidence that helps to establish the truth of something
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
RemoteadjectiveUS /rɪˈmoʊt/
located far away spatially
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
retainedadjectiveUS /rɪˈteɪnd/
continued in your keeping or use or memory
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
retreatnounUS /riˈtriːt/
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
scarceadverbUS /skers/
only a very short time before
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
searchverbUS /sɜːrtʃ/
try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
seldomadverbUS /ˈseldəm/
not often
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
simplicitynounUS /sɪmˈplɪsəti/
the quality of being simple or uncompounded
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
stilladjectiveUS /stɪl/
not in physical motion
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
strangersnounUS /ˈstreɪndʒərz/
plural of “stranger” — anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
superfluitynoun
extreme excess
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
temperancenounUS /ˈtempərəns/
the trait of avoiding excesses
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
themselvespronounUS /ðemˈselvz/
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
tilledadjective
turned or stirred by plowing or harrowing or hoeing
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
townsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
virtuenounUS /ˈvɝː.tʃuː/
Moral excellence and goodness of character; the highest human attainment in Stoic philosophy.
From this reading Remote from the polite, they still retained the primaeval simplicity of manners, and frugal by habit, they scarce knew that temperance was a virtue.
visitedverbUS /ˈvɪzɪtɪd/
past form of “visit” — go to see a place, as for entertainment
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading A proof that even the humblest fortune may grant happiness, which depends not on circumstance, but constitution.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading The place of our retreat was in a little neighbourhood, consisting of farmers, who tilled their own grounds, and were equal strangers to opulence and poverty.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
withinprepositionUS /wɪˈðɪn/
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading As they had almost all the conveniencies of life within themselves, they seldom visited towns or cities in search of superfluity.
wroughtadjectiveUS /rɔːt/
shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)
From this reading They wrought with cheerfulness on days of labour; but observed festivals as intervals of idleness and pleasure.
