Chapter VI · Chapter 6

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

presently existing in fact and not merely potential or possible

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

people who lived in times long past (especially during the historical period before the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe)

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

bewildering or striking dumb with wonder

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

French novelist; he portrays the complexity of 19th century French society (1799-1850)

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

United States showman who popularized the circus (1810-1891)

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

a race between candidates for elective office

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

a widely known person

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

United States reformer who led moral crusades against art and literature that he considered obscene (1844-1915)

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

plural of “confession” — an admission of misdeeds or faults

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

without stop or interruption

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

in an abundant manner

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

the act of damning

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

plural of “defender” — a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

done or made or performed with purpose and intent

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

having made preparations

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

manner of acting or controlling yourself

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

feeling great rapture or delight

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

power to be effective; the quality of being able to bring about an effect

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

the decade from 1880 to 1889

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

plural of “enterprise” — a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

more than is needed, desired, or required

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

in a feverish manner

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

a literary work based on the imagination and not necessarily on fact

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

with resolute determination

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

set up or found

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

(used as intensives reflecting the speaker's attitude) it is sincerely the case that

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

only a very short time before

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

possessive form of “hardy” — United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

involving risk or danger

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

plural of “imitator” — someone who (fraudulently) assumes the appearance of another

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

becoming greater or larger

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

(New Testament) supposed brother of St. James; one of the Apostles who is invoked in prayer when a situation seems hopeless

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

a room where books are kept

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

a dark region of considerable extent on the surface of the moon

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

a male religious living in a cloister and devoting himself to contemplation and prayer and work

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

of or relating to or belonging to a nation or country

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

the decade from 1890 to 1899

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

not any; not one

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

make less visible or unclear

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

on one occasion

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

from appearances alone

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

organized persecution of an ethnic group (especially Jews)

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

designed to arouse lust

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

past form of “pounce” — move down on as if in an attack

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

people in general considered as a whole

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

a copy of a printed work offered for distribution

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

author of satirical attacks on medieval scholasticism (1494-1553)

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

made known or told about; especially presented in a formal account

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

put a saddle on

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

only a very short time before

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

United States architect known for his steel framed skyscrapers and for coining the phrase “form follows function” (1856-1924)

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

sweep across or over

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Comstock became a national celebrity; his doings were as copiously reported by the newspapers as those of P. T. Barnum or John L. Sullivan.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

the aggregation of things (pedestrians or vehicles) coming and going in a particular locality during a specified period of time

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Imitators sprang up in all the larger cities: there was hardly a public library in the land that did not begin feverishly expurgating its shelves; the publication of fiction, and particularly of foreign fiction, took on the character of an extra hazardous enterprise.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

to an exceedingly great extent or degree

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

plural of “victim” — an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

an act of aggression (as one against a person who resists)

From this reading All through the eighties and nineties this ecstatic campaign continued, always increasing in violence and effectiveness.

articles of the same kind or material; usually used in combination: “silverware”, “software”

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

comparative of “wide” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Ostensibly, as I have said, the new laws were designed to put down the traffic in frankly pornographic books and pictures--a traffic which, of course, found no defenders--but Comstock had so drawn them that their actual sweep was vastly wider, and once he was firmly in the saddle his enterprises scarcely knew limits.

French novelist and critic; defender of Dreyfus (1840-1902)

From this reading Having disposed of "The Confessions of Maria Monk" and "Night Life in Paris," he turned to Rabelais and the Decameron, and having driven these ancients under the book-counters, he pounced upon Zola, Balzac and Daudet, and having disposed of these too, he began a _pogrom_ which, in other hands, eventually brought down such astounding victims as Thomas Hardy's "Jude the Obscure" and Harold Frederic's "The Damnation of Theron Ware."