used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
avium
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
blackthornnoun
a thorny Eurasian bush with plumlike fruits
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
cantus
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
a large and stately mansion
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
cedarnounUS /ˈsiːdər/
any of numerous trees of the family Cupressaceae that resemble cedars
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
ceilingsnounUS /ˈsiːlɪŋz/
plural of “ceiling” — the overhead upper surface of a covered space
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
citharaeque
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
colouredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/
having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
a politically organized body of people under a single government
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
doesauxiliary verbUS /dʌz/
the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
entersverbUS /ˈentərz/
third-person singular of “enter” — to come or go into
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
fortifyverbUS /ˈfɔːrtɪfaɪ/
make strong or stronger
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
frettedadjectiveUS /ˈfretɪd/
having frets
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
coins made of gold
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
harbourverbUS /ˈhɑːrbər/
secretly shelter (as of fugitives or criminals)
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
homesnounUS /hoʊmz/
plural of “home” — where you live at a particular time
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
Horace'snounUS /ˈhɔːrəsəz/
possessive form of “horace” — Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
house-fly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
ivorynounUS /ˈaɪvəri/
a hard smooth ivory colored dentine that makes up most of the tusks of elephants and walruses
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
man'snounUS /mænz/
possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
nonadverbUS /nɑːn/
negation of a word or group of words
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
nooksnounUS /nʊks/
plural of “nook” — a sheltered and secluded place
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
and not; used after a negative to add a second negative
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
and nothing more
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In our happy country every man's house is his castle.
porticos
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
reducent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
Roman'snounUS /ˈroʊmənz/
possessive form of “roman” — a resident of modern Rome
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
singing-bird
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
somnum
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
startsnounUS /stɑːrts/
plural of “start” — the beginning of anything
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
stoutlyadverbUS /ˈstaʊtli/
in a resolute manner
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
believed likely
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
in or at that place or location
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading Is it quite true that, "non avium citharaeque cantus somnum reducent"?
villanounUS /ˈvɪlə/
Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)
From this reading But however stoutly he fortify it, Care enters, as surely as she did in Horace's time, through the porticos of a Roman's villa.
used to introduce two or more possibilities
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But every tree, be it cedar or blackthorn, can harbour its singing-bird; and few are the homes in which, from nooks least suspected, there starts not a music.
whitewashnounUS /ˈwaɪtwɑːʃ/
a defeat in which the losing person or team fails to score
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Nor, whether ceilings be fretted with gold and ivory, or whether only coloured with whitewash, does it matter to Care any more than it does to a house-fly.
