Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

plural of “age” — how long something has existed

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

in the past

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

adopted in order to deceive

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

cause to be bored

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

brought into existence

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

past form of “deem” — keep in mind or convey as a conviction or view

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

being ten more than seventy

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

very good; of the highest quality

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

Living forever; never dying or decaying. (Bất tử, trường tồn vĩnh cửu.)

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

a republic in southern Europe on the Italian Peninsula; was the core of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire between the 4th century BC and the 5th century AD

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

the force of workers available

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

being ten more than eighty

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

to become aware of through the senses

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

an amount of time

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

past form of “propound” — put forward, as of an idea

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

on the contrary

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

bringing again into activity and prominence

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

Identical; not different.

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

English poet and dramatist considered one of the greatest English writers (1564-1616)

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

not in physical motion

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

in or at that place or location

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading "Three poets in three distant ages born, Greece, Italy and England did adorn, .

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

(usually followed by “to”) not having the necessary means or skill or know-how

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

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

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading When the Shakespeare revival came, some eighty or ninety years ago, people said "pretty well for Shakespeare" and the "learned" men of that period were rather ashamed that Shakespeare should be deemed to be "_the_" English poet.

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

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

at the time that

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

which person or people

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading "What does it matter whether the immortal works were written by Shakespeare (of Stratford) or by another man who bore (or assumed) the same name?"

a late time of life

From this reading Some twenty years ago, when this question was first propounded, it was deemed an excellent joke, and I find that there still are a great number of persons who seem unable to perceive that the question is one of considerable importance.