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adeterminerUS /ə/
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
any
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
anythingpronounUS /ˈeniθɪŋ/
any thing at all
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
asconjunctionUS /æz/
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
ascertain
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From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
attention
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From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
bad
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From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
becauseconjunctionUS /bɪˈkɔːz/
for the reason that
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
bestow
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From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
bluntly
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From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
byprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
certainly
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
commendation
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From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
comparing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
comparison
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
copies
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From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
copyists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
critic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
critic's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
Criticism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
damning
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
declare
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
defects
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
Dickens
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
discrimination
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
dismissed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
disposing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
enough
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
equals
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
especially
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
eulogy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
excellences
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
finer
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
gifts
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
good-natured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
greatnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
imitators
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
incapables
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
indeed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
justice
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
lazy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
literature
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
lives
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
machines
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
making
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
maymodal verbUS /meɪ/
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
mere
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
merely
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
meritorious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
model
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
nevernounUS /never/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
novelist
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
onprepositionUS /ɑːn/
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
orconjunctionUS /ɔːr/
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
painters
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
pass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
pictures
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
poet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
probably
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
qualities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
refuge
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
Scott
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
smothering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
somebodypronounUS /ˈsʌmbɑːdi/
a person, without saying who
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
sort
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
style
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
subject
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
takenounUS /take/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
Tennyson
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
thedeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
theirdeterminerUS /ðer/
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
thempronounUS /ðem/
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
theypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
thoughtless
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
timenounUS /time/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
trouble
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
true
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Criticism by comparison is the refuge of incapables, and especially is this true in literature.
unjust
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
way
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
wepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
well
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
WhatpronounUS /wʌt/
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading If, indeed, the poet and novelist are mere imitators of a model and copyists of a style, they may be dismissed with such commendation as we bestow upon the machines who pass their lives in making bad copies of the pictures of the great painters.
willmodal verbUS /wɪl/
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading What is the justice of damning a meritorious novelist by comparing him with Dickens, and smothering him with thoughtless and good-natured eulogy?
withoutprepositionUS /wɪˈθaʊt/
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
worth
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From this reading The poet and the novelist may be well enough, and probably have qualities and gifts of their own which are worth the critic's attention, if he has any time to bestow on them; and it is certainly unjust to subject them to a comparison with somebody else, merely because the critic will not take the trouble to ascertain what they are.
wrote
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.
young
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is a lazy way of disposing of a young poet to bluntly declare, without any sort of discrimination of his defects or his excellences, that he equals Tennyson, and that Scott never wrote anything finer.