used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
tried unsuccessfully
From this reading Together they attempted to indite verse.
chasteadjectiveUS /tʃeɪst/
morally pure (especially not having experienced sexual intercourse)
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
contestsnounUS /ˈkɑːntests/
plural of “contest” — an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
deareradjectiveUS /ˈdɪrər/
comparative of “dear” — dearly loved
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
declamationnoun
vehement oratory
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
dispositionnounUS /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/
your usual mood
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
opinion or judgment
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
inditeverbUS /ˌɪnˈdaɪt/
produce a literary work
From this reading Together they attempted to indite verse.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
jealousynounUS /ˈdʒeləsi/
a feeling of jealous envy (especially of a rival)
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
languagesnounUS /ˈlæŋɡwədʒəz/
plural of “language” — a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
LatinadjectiveUS /ˈlætən/
of or relating to the ancient Latins or the Latin language
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
Lucan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
manifestverbUS /ˈmænəfest/
provide evidence for; stand as proof of; show by one's behavior, attitude, or external attributes
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
modestadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːdəst/
marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
NeronounUS /ˈnɪroʊ/
Roman Emperor notorious for his monstrous vice and fantastic luxury (was said to have started a fire that destroyed much of Rome in 64) but the Roman Empire remained prosperous during his rule (37-68)
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
participate in games or sport
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
practisedadjectiveUS /ˈpræktɪst/
skillful after much practice
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
concerned with sacred matters or religion or the church
From this reading “Nero is chaste, modest, of a kindly disposition, and religious.
school-mate
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
symptomnounUS /ˈsɪmptəm/
(medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading Together they practised declamation in the Greek and Latin languages.
literature in metrical form
From this reading Together they attempted to indite verse.
versificationnoun
a metrical adaptation of something (e.g., of a prose text)
From this reading Never did Nero, in the course of these contests of skill at versification, manifest the slightest symptom of jealousy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
which person or people
From this reading My little Lucan, who is dearer to me than my eyes, was his play- and school-mate.
