used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
assistedadjectiveUS /əˈsɪstɪd/
having help; often used as a combining form
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
the power or right to give orders or make decisions
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
biographynounUS /baɪˈɑːɡrəfi/
an account of the series of events making up a person's life
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
cannot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
conceptionnounUS /kənˈsepʃən/
an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
deem to be
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
describingverbUS /dɪˈskraɪbɪŋ/
-ing form of “describe” — give a description of
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
designedadjectiveUS /dɪˈzaɪnd/
done or made or performed with purpose and intent
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
to come or go into
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
formallyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrməli/
with official authorization
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)
From this reading GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
HawthornenounUS /ˈhɔːθɔːrn/
United States writer of novels and short stories mostly on moral themes (1804-1864)
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
an instinctive motive
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
inspirationnounUS /ˌɪnspərˈeɪʃən/
arousal of the mind to special unusual activity or creativity
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
intrusted
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
inwardadjectiveUS /ˈɪnwərd/
relating to or existing in the mind or thoughts
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
apprehended with certainty
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
LATHROP
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
of or relating to or characteristic of literature
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
PARSONSnounUS /ˈpɑːrsənz/
United States sociologist (1902-1979)
From this reading GEORGE PARSONS LATHROP.
performancenounUS /pərˈfɔːrməns/
a dramatic or musical entertainment
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
by chance
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
a word picture of a person's appearance and character
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
on the contrary
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
express in speech
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
not in physical motion
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
the subject matter of a conversation or discussion
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
an inclination to support or be loyal to or to agree with an opinion
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This book was not designed as a biography, but is rather a portrait.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And, to speak more carefully still, it is not so much this, as my conception of what a portrait of Hawthorne should be.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading On the other hand, I do not enter upon this attempt as a mere literary performance, but have been assisted in it by an inward impulse, a consciousness of sympathy with the subject, which I may perhaps consider a sort of inspiration.
which person or people
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
in the company of; together with
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
produce a literary work
From this reading For I cannot write with the authority of one who had known him and had been formally intrusted with the task of describing his life.
