used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
ACQUIRINGnounUS /əˈkwaɪrɪŋ/
the act of acquiring something
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
ACTORSnounUS /ˈæktərz/
plural of “actor” — a theatrical performer
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
agenciesnounUS /ˈeɪdʒənsiz/
plural of “agency” — an administrative unit of government
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
ambitiousadjectiveUS /æmˈbɪʃəs/
having a strong desire for success or achievement
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
Biograph's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
carpentersnounUS /ˈkɑːrpəntərz/
plural of “carpenter” — a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
a boy or man
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
conflictingadjectiveUS /kənˈflɪktɪŋ/
in disagreement
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
dashverbUS /dæʃ/
run or move very quickly or hastily
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
recognizable; marked
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
decisionsnounUS /dɪˈsɪʒənz/
plural of “decision” — the act of making up your mind about something
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
unlike in nature or quality or form or degree
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
plural of “dollar” — the basic monetary unit in many countries; equal to 100 cents
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
dramaticadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
emotionsnounUS /ɪˈmoʊʃənz/
plural of “emotion” — any strong feeling
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
ever-increasing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
promote over another
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
good-lookingadjectiveUS /ˈɡʊdlʊkɪŋ/
pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
GriffithnounUS /ˈɡrɪfəθ/
United States film maker who was the first to use flashbacks and fade-outs (1875-1948)
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
He'd
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading “That’s the type I want.”
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
and nothing more
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
go away from a place
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
manlyadjectiveUS /ˈmænli/
possessing qualities befitting a man
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
movienounUS /ˈmuːvi/
a form of entertainment that enacts a story by sound and a sequence of images giving the illusion of continuous movement
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
in motion
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
PickfordnounUS /ˈpɪkfərd/
United States film actress (born in Canada) who starred in silent films (1893-1979)
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
precisely, exactly
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
Scott'snounUS /skɑːts/
possessive form of “scott” — award-winning United States film actor (1928-1999)
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
the act of searching for something
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
caught or fixed
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
studionounUS /ˈstuːdioʊ/
workplace for the teaching or practice of an art
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
talentnounUS /ˈtælənt/
natural abilities or qualities
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
taxiverbUS /ˈtæksi/
travel slowly
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
That's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “That’s the type I want.”
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
a subdivision of a particular kind of thing
From this reading “That’s the type I want.”
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
varyingadjectiveUS /ˈveriɪŋ/
marked by diversity or difference
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
feel or have a desire for; want strongly
From this reading “That’s the type I want.”
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading At one of these agencies--Paul Scott’s--he arrived just as a good-looking manly sort of chap was about to leave.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
which person or people
From this reading He’d dash out of the studio while the carpenters were putting up a new set, jump into a taxi, call at the different dramatic agencies, and ask had they any actors who might like to work in moving pictures at ten dollars a day!
winningadjectiveUS /ˈwɪnɪŋ/
having won
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With Mary Pickford pictures winning favor, David Griffith became ambitious for new talent, and as the right sort didn’t come seeking, _he_ decided to go seeking.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading ACQUIRING ACTORS AND STYLE Through conflicting emotions and varying decisions and an ever-increasing interest and faith in the new work, Biograph’s first movie actors stuck.
