used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
generally approved or compelling recognition
From this reading When he found good stuff he accepted it.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
back-slapping
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
having undesirable or negative qualities
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
desiresnounUS /dɪˈzaɪərz/
plural of “desire” — the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
editornounUS /ˈedətər/
a person responsible for the editorial aspects of publication; the person who determines the final content of a text (especially of a newspaper or magazine)
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
favoritesnounUS /ˈfeɪvərɪts/
plural of “favorite” — something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
set up or found
From this reading When he found good stuff he accepted it.
someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
geniusesnounUS /ˈdʒiːnjəsɪz/
plural of “genius” — someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading When he found good stuff he accepted it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
HarrisnounUS /ˈherɪs/
United States author who wrote the stories about Uncle Remus (1848-1908)
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
inadequateadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈnædəkwət/
lacking the requisite qualities or resources to meet a task
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
intellectualadjectiveUS /ˌɪntəˈlektʃuːəl/
of or associated with or requiring the use of the mind
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
an opinion formed by judging something
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
marvelousadjectiveUS /ˈmɑːrvələs/
extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
select carefully from a group
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
(of games) engaged in
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
printingnounUS /ˈprɪntɪŋ/
text handwritten in the style of printed matter
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
second-sight
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading When he found good stuff he accepted it.
temptationsnounUS /temˈteɪʃənz/
plural of “temptation” — something that seduces or has the quality to seduce
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
a special situation
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading Harris said that it took a genius like himself to discover geniuses, and that as an editor, he never played favorites.
versesnounUS /ˈvɜːrsəz/
plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I said I thought it was a marvelous thing, something like second-sight, for a man to pick a genius by his first inadequate efforts.
at the time that
From this reading When he found good stuff he accepted it.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He had had great temptations, but he never let his desires interfere with his intellectual judgment.
plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)
From this reading But he didn't go back-slapping and printing bad verses by pretty women.
