Chapter I

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

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

how long something has existed

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

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

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

possessive form of “architect” — someone who creates plans to be used in making something (such as buildings)

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

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

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

possessive form of “author” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

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

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

plural of “bear” — massive plantigrade carnivorous or omnivorous mammals with long shaggy coats and strong claws

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

a period of 100 years

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

act of working jointly

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

the state of being complete and entire; having everything that is needed

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

act of improving by expanding or enlarging or refining

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

completely wanting or lacking

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading And so with printed plays, those ground-plans of the drama.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

in essence; at bottom or by one's (or its) very nature

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

at any time

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

a competitor thought likely to win

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

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

From this reading And so with printed plays, those ground-plans of the drama.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

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

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

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

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

immediately past

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

someone who is not a clergyman or a professional person

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

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

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

involving the mind or an intellectual process

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

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

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

and nothing more

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

the one or ones belonging to us

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

a human being

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

participate in games or sport

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

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

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

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

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

more desirable than another

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

past form of “print” — put into print

From this reading And so with printed plays, those ground-plans of the drama.

someone who manufactures something

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

a relation between people; (“relationship” is often used where “relation” would serve, as in `the relationship between inflation and unemployment', but the preferred usage of “relationship” is for human relations or states of relatedness)

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

feel bitter or indignant about

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

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

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

a written version of a play or other dramatic composition; used in preparing for a performance

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

marked by correspondence or resemblance

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The author's script bears to the completed play a relationship similar to that of an architect's plan to a completed building.

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

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading And so with printed plays, those ground-plans of the drama.

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

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

poorly articulated or enunciated, or drowned by noise

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

everywhere

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

a successful ending of a struggle or contest

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

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

From this reading |In another age than ours play-books were a favourite, if not the only, form of light reading, and the novel, now almost universally preferred, is the development of the last century.

which person or people

From this reading Architect's plans, however, are not unintelligible to the layman, especially to the layman who is not devoid of imagination, the layman who is ready to spend a trifling mental effort and to become, be it ever so little, expert.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading But a writer of plays should be the last person in the world to resent the novelist's victory, for plays are written to be acted, and reach a full completeness only by means of the collaboration of author with producer, scene-painter, actors and, finally and essentially, audience.