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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 that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
againnounUS /again/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
All
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From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
also
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From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
always
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
andconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
any
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From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
artistic
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
atprepositionUS /æt/
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
attack
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
become
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From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
better
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From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
butconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
C
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
capital
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From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
CHARACTERS
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From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
consciousness
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From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
couldmodal verbUS /kʊd/
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
creation
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From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
criticism
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From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
criticizing
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From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
depressing
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From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
DICKENS
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From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
difficulty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
disadvantage
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
evident
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
exhilarating
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
GREATnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
inprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
isauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
ItpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
makenounUS /make/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
moon
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
much
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
notadverbUS /nɑːt/
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
pessimists
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
reason
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
see
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
spelt
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
staggering
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
sun
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
tends
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
TheypronounUS /ðeɪ/
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They have an exhilarating consciousness that they could make the sun and moon better; but they also have the depressing consciousness that they could not make the sun and moon at all.
thingnounUS /thing/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading It is that criticism of creation is so very staggering a thing.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
too
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
Universe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
very
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE GREAT DICKENS CHARACTERS All criticism tends too much to become criticism of criticism; and the reason is very evident.
WepronounUS /wiː/
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We see this in the difficulty of criticizing any artistic creation.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading We see it again in the difficulty of criticizing that creation which is spelt with a capital C. The pessimists who attack the Universe are always under this disadvantage.