used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
addictedadjectiveUS /əˈdɪktɪd/
compulsively or physiologically dependent on something habit-forming
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
how long something has existed
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
AlexandernounUS /ˌæləɡˈzændər/
European herb somewhat resembling celery widely naturalized in Britain coastal regions and often cultivated as a potherb
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
amongprepositionUS /əˈmʌŋ/
surrounded by; in the middle of a group
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
beguileverbUS /bɪˈɡaɪl/
influence by slyness
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
bonenounUS /boʊn/
rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
catchingnounUS /ˈkætʃɪŋ/
(baseball) playing the position of catcher on a baseball team
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
plural of “child” — a young person of either sex
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
a teacher and prophet born in Bethlehem and active in Nazareth; his life and sermons form the basis for Christianity (circa 4 BC - AD 29)
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
cubesnounUS /kjuːbz/
plural of “cube” — a hexahedron with six equal squares as faces
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
give a description of
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
DicenounUS /daɪs/
a small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
enforcedadjectiveUS /enˈfɔːrst/
forced or compelled or put in force
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
ennuinounUS /eˈnuːi/
the feeling of being bored by something tedious
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
a diagram or picture illustrating textual material
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
set up or found
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
gamblingnounUS /ˈɡæmbəlɪŋ/
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
GAMINGnounUS /ˈɡeɪmɪŋ/
the act of playing for stakes in the hope of winning (including the payment of a price for a chance to win a prize)
From this reading THE GAMING TABLE.
the Hellenic branch of the Indo-European family of languages
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
ten 10s
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
idlenessnounUS /ˈaɪdəlnəs/
having no employment
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
JacksnounUS /dʒæks/
a game in which jackstones are thrown and picked up in various groups between bounces of a small rubber ball
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
leisurenounUS /ˈleʒər/
time available for ease and relaxation
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
LuxornounUS /ˈlʌksər/
a city in central Egypt on the east bank of the Nile that is a center for visitors to the ruins of and around Thebes
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
nationsnounUS /ˈneɪʃənz/
plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
a strong feeling or emotion
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
being complete of its kind and without defect or blemish
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
participate in games or sport
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
rawadjectiveUS /rɑː/
(used especially of commodities) being unprocessed or manufactured using only simple or minimal processes
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
recruitsnounUS /rəˈkruːts/
plural of “recruit” — a recently enlisted soldier
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
RomansnounUS /ˈroʊmənz/
a New Testament book containing an exposition of the doctrines of Saint Paul; written in AD 58
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
SophoclesnounUS /ˈsɑːfəkliz/
one of the great tragedians of ancient Greece (496-406 BC)
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
a set of data arranged in rows and columns
From this reading THE GAMING TABLE.
tali
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GAMING TABLE.
ThebesnounUS /θiːbz/
an ancient Egyptian city on the Nile River that flourished from the 22nd century BC to the 18th century BC; today the archeological remains include many splendid temples and tombs
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
to-day
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
tombsnounUS /tuːmz/
plural of “tomb” — a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Soldiers from the enforced idleness of much of their time and the intense excitement of the rest of it, have in every age been addicted to gambling to beguile the _ennui_ of their too ample leisure--from those of Alexander down to the raw recruits of to-day.
tossingverbUS /ˈtɔːsɪŋ/
-ing form of “toss” — throw or toss with a light motion
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
the act of using
From this reading Dice of bone and ivory, like those in use to-day, have been found in the tombs of Thebes and Luxor.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Gaming was a perfect passion among the Romans, and indeed among most ancient nations.
a late time of life
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
Æschylus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Æschylus and Sophocles describe their use four hundred years before Christ, and in an ancient Greek picture now before us, a female figure is shown tossing _tali_, or gaming cubes, and catching them on the back of her hand, as children now play "Jacks."
