AdeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
ASconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
attainedadjectiveUS /əˈteɪnd/
achieved or reached
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
attemptnounUS /əˈtempt/
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
billsnounUS /bɪlz/
plural of “bill” — a statute in draft before it becomes law
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
boundedadjectiveUS /ˈbaʊndəd/
having the limits or boundaries established
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
buriedadjectiveUS /ˈberid/
placed in a grave
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
cautiousadjectiveUS /ˈkɔːʃəs/
showing careful forethought
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
conveniencesnounUS /kənˈviːnjənsɪz/
things that make you comfortable and at ease
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
defineverbUS /dɪˈfaɪn/
determine the essential quality of
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
definiteadjectiveUS /ˈdefənət/
precise; explicit and clearly defined
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
definitionnounUS /ˌdefəˈnɪʃən/
a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
definitionsnounUS /ˌdefəˈnɪʃənz/
plural of “definition” — a concise explanation of the meaning of a word or phrase or symbol
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/
-ing form of “describe” — give a description of
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
difficultadjectiveUS /ˈdɪfəkəlt/
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
downadjectiveUS /daʊn/
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
DRAMATICadjectiveUS /drəˈmætɪk/
suitable to or characteristic of drama
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
evenadjectiveUS /ˈiːvɪn/
divisible by two
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
fledgedadjectiveUS /fledʒd/
(of birds) having developed feathers or plumage; often used in combination
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
ForprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For perhaps the surest way of learning what a thing is, is first to learn what it is not.
FORMnounUS /fɔːrm/
the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
formsnounUS /fɔːrmz/
plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
foundationsnounUS /faʊnˈdeɪʃənz/
plural of “foundation” — the basis on which something is grounded
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
fromprepositionUS /frʌm/
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
fulladjectiveUS /fʊl/
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
futileadjectiveUS /ˈfjuːtəl/
producing no result or effect
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
growthnounUS /ɡroʊθ/
(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
hastyadjectiveUS /ˈheɪsti/
excessively quick
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
incandescentadjectiveUS /ˌɪnkənˈdesənt/
emitting light as a result of being heated
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
indeedadverbUS /ˌɪnˈdiːd/
in truth (often tends to intensify)
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
inventor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
itsdeterminerUS /ɪts/
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
knowverbUS /noʊ/
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
laidadjectiveUS /leɪd/
set down according to a plan
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
lampnounUS /læmp/
an artificial source of visible illumination
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
learnverbUS /lɜːrn/
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading For perhaps the surest way of learning what a thing is, is first to learn what it is not.
learningnounUS /ˈlɜːrnɪŋ/
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
From this reading For perhaps the surest way of learning what a thing is, is first to learn what it is not.
lestconjunctionUS /lest/
in order that something should not happen
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
lifenounUS /laɪf/
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
LikeverbUS /laɪk/
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
mechanicaladjectiveUS /məˈkænɪkəl/
using (or as if using) mechanisms or tools or devices
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
mindnounUS /maɪnd/
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
mostadverbUS /moʊst/
used to form the superlative
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
myriadnounUS /ˈmɪriəd/
a large indefinite number
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
near-playlet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
otheradjectiveUS /ˈʌðər/
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
paintingnounUS /ˈpeɪntɪŋ/
graphic art consisting of an artistic composition made by applying paints to a surface
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
perhapsadverbUS /pərˈhæps/
by chance
From this reading For perhaps the surest way of learning what a thing is, is first to learn what it is not.
photographynounUS /fəˈtɑːɡrəfi/
the act of taking and printing photographs
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
PLAYLETnoun
a short play
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
presentverbUS /ˈprezənt/
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
seenverbUS /siːn/
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
short-story
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
slowadjectiveUS /sloʊ/
not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
someadjectiveUS /sʌm/
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
springnounUS /sprɪŋ/
the season of growth
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
surestadjectiveUS /ˈʃʊrɪst/
superlative of “sure” — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured
From this reading For perhaps the surest way of learning what a thing is, is first to learn what it is not.
telephonenounUS /ˈteləfoʊn/
electronic equipment that converts sound into electrical signals that can be transmitted over distances and then converts received signals back into sounds
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
thingnounUS /θɪŋ/
a special situation
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
todaynounUS /təˈdeɪ/
the present time or age
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
tombnounUS /tuːm/
a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone)
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
understandingnounUS /ˌʌndərˈstændɪŋ/
the cognitive condition of someone who understands
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
UNIQUEadjectiveUS /juːˈniːk/
radically distinctive and without equal
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
vaudevillenounUS /ˈvɑːdvɪl/
a variety show with songs and comic acts etc.
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
veryadjectiveUS /ˈveri/
precisely as stated
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
waynounUS /weɪ/
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading For perhaps the surest way of learning what a thing is, is first to learn what it is not.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Like the short-story, painting as we know it today, photography, the incandescent lamp, the telephone, and the myriad other forms of art and mechanical conveniences, the playlet did not spring from an inventor's mind full fledged, but attained its present form by slow growth.
whatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For perhaps the surest way of learning what a thing is, is first to learn what it is not.
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
wordsnounUS /wɜːrdz/
the words that are spoken
From this reading It is a thing of life--and life cannot be bounded by words, lest it be buried in the tomb of a hasty definition.
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To attempt even the most cautious of definitions without having first laid down the foundations of understanding by describing some of the near-playlet forms to be seen on many vaudeville bills would, indeed, be futile.
yetconjunctionUS /jet/
but in spite of that
From this reading THE PLAYLET AS A UNIQUE DRAMATIC FORM The playlet is a very definite thing--and yet it is difficult to define.
