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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
all
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
ancientadjectiveUS /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
any
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
aristocratic
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
authority
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
became
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
beginningnounUS /ˈbeginning/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
caste
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
ceased
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From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
century
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
citizenship
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
civility
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
combat
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
commonwealth
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
confining
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
created
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
declined
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
delivered
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
devotion
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
efforts
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
Empire
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
end
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
estate
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
estates
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From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
existence
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
fact
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From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
fifth
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
finance
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From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
forbade
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
forgottenadjectiveUS /fərˈɡɑːt.n̩/
Not remembered; lapsed from memory.
From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
freedmen
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
Havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
HERESY
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
hold
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From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
honours
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
Imperial
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
InprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
independent
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
infinite
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
inhabitants
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
Italy
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
jurisdiction
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
justice
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From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
law
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From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
live
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From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
lord
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
made
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
mass
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
matters
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From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
menace
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
municipia
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From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
near
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From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
noble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
nobles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
obliged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
office
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
ordernounUS /order/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
perform
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From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
plead
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
points
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
power
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
predominance
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
principle
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
private
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
privileges
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
public
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
rightnounUS /right/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
Roman
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
rulers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
rural
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
senatorial
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From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
serfs
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
services
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
situated
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
slaves
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
some
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
state
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
strenuous
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
striving
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
strongest
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
system
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From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
tendency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
ThedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
Theodoric
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From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
times
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading HERESY The Roman Empire, by confining privileges and honours to the senatorial order, created a noble caste, and this caste, as Imperial authority declined, became a power independent of the state, and a menace to its existence.
towns
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Having ceased to hold office and perform public services in the municipia, they became, in fact, rulers of the towns situated on or near their great estates.
uphold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
whenconjunctionUS /wen/
at the time that
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading In matters of justice and of finance the nobles were beginning to live by their own law, which was that of the right of the strongest.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading In Italy, by the end of the fifth century, the great system of citizenship, with its principle of infinite devotion to the good of the commonwealth, was all but forgotten.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
yield
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Theodoric, striving to uphold the ancient civility, made strenuous efforts to combat this aristocratic predominance; yet on some points he was obliged to yield to the tendency of the times, as when he forbade the freedmen, serfs, and slaves on any estate to plead against their lord, and so delivered the mass of the rural inhabitants of Italy to private jurisdiction.
