used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
ADDISON
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
affabilitynoun
a disposition to be friendly and approachable (easy to talk to)
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
matters of personal concern
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
(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 For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
amidstprepositionUS /əˈmɪdst/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
begottenadjectiveUS /biˈɡɔːtɪn/
(of offspring) generated by procreation
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
courtiersnounUS /ˈkɔːrtiərz/
plural of “courtier” — an attendant at the court of a sovereign
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
dangersnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒərz/
plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
displayedverbUS /dɪˈspleɪd/
past form of “display” — to show, make visible or apparent
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
the organ of sight
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
favoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
the condition of being free; the power to act or speak or think without externally imposed restraints
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
genuineadjectiveUS /ˈdʒenjəwən/
not fake or counterfeit
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
a state of high honor
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
ingratiatingadjectiveUS /ˌɪŋˈɡreɪʃieɪtɪŋ/
capable of winning favor
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
determine the result of (a competition)
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
lustrenounUS /ˈlʌstər/
a surface coating for ceramics or porcelain
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
impressiveness in scale or proportion
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
a form of address for a man
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
the condition of being essential or indispensable
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
not any; not one
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
obviousadjectiveUS /ˈɑːbviəs/
easily perceived by the senses or grasped by the mind
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
policynounUS /ˈpɑːləsi/
a plan of action adopted by an individual or social group
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
marked by suitability or rightness or appropriateness
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
people in general considered as a whole
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
plural of “quality” — an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
reflectverbUS /rɪˈflekt/
manifest or bring back
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
cut with a saw
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
the place where some action occurs
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
get by special effort
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
speciousadjectiveUS /ˈspiːʃəs/
plausible but false
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
spuriousadjectiveUS /sˈpjʊriəs/
ostensibly valid, but not actually valid
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
confined on all sides
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
temptedverbUS /ˈtemptɪd/
past form of “tempt” — dispose or incline or entice to
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
in or at that place or location
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
the act of using
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
precisely as stated
From this reading Yet I doubt they were not so much the proper effects of her nature, as her policy; a set of spurious virtues, begotten by the very necessity of her affairs.
VICESnounUS /ˈvaɪsəz/
plural of “vice” — moral weakness
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
VIRTUESnounUS /ˈvɜːrtʃuːz/
plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading As far as I can judge of her character, as displayed in that solemn scene of her court, she had some apparent VIRTUES, but more genuine VICES; which yet, in the public eye, had equally the fortune to reflect a lustre on her government.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For her AFFABILITY, she saw there was no way of being secure amidst the dangers of all sorts, with which she was surrounded; but by ingratiating herself with the body of the people.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet I may be tempted, said Mr. ADDISON, to use a freedom in this survey of her majesty, that would not have been granted to her most favoured courtiers.
zealnounUS /ziːl/
a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)
From this reading Her gracious affability, her love of her people, her zeal for the national glory; were not these her more obvious and specious qualities?
