used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
adoreverbUS /əˈdɔːr/
love intensely
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
antiquitynounUS /ænˈtɪkwəti/
the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
apparatusesnounUS /ˌæpərˈætəsəz/
plural of “apparatus” — equipment designed to serve a specific function
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
appliedadjectiveUS /əˈplaɪd/
concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
for the reason that
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
BuddhismnounUS /ˈbuːdɪzəm/
a religion represented by the many groups (especially in Asia) that profess various forms of the Buddhist doctrine and that venerate Buddha
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
an occurrence of something
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
ChristianitynounUS /ˌkrɪstʃiˈænɪti/
a monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
contemplationnounUS /ˌkɑːntəmˈpleɪʃən/
a long and thoughtful observation
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
conventnounUS /ˈkɑːnvənt/
a religious residence especially for nuns
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
disproportionatelyadverbUS /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːrʃənətli/
out of proportion
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
dramanounUS /ˈdrɑːmə/
a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
one or the other of two
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
encounterverbUS /ɪnˈkaʊntər/
come together
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
enlargingverbUS /ɪnˈlɑːrdʒɪŋ/
-ing form of “enlarge” — make larger
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
to come or go into
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
divisible by two
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
execrateverb
find repugnant
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
hideousadjectiveUS /ˈhɪdiəs/
grossly offensive to decency or morality; causing horror
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
plural of “idea” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
indignations
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
InfiniteadjectiveUS /ˈɪnfənət/
having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
indicating the most important performer or role
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
Mahometanism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
maintainingverbUS /meɪnˈteɪnɪŋ/
-ing form of “maintain” — cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading Man is the second.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
mosquenounUS /mɑːsk/
(Islam) a Muslim place of worship that usually has a minaret
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
in spite of what has just been said
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
OccidentnounUS /ˈɑːksədent/
the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
opticaladjectiveUS /ˈɑːptɪkəl/
of or relating to or involving light or optics
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
OrientverbUS /ˈɔːrient/
be oriented
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
overpoweredverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈpaʊərd/
past form of “overpower” — overcome by superior force
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
paganismnounUS /ˈpeɪɡənɪzəm/
any of various religions other than Christianity or Judaism or Islamism
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
pagodanounUS /pəˈɡoʊdə/
an Asian temple; usually a pyramidal tower with an upward curving roof
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
personagenoun
another word for person; a person not meriting identification
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
reservesnounUS /rɪˈzɜːrvz/
civilians trained as soldiers but not part of the regular army
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
restrictionsnounUS /riˈstrɪkʃənz/
plural of “restriction” — a principle that limits the extent of something
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
reverberationnounUS /riˌvɜːrbərˈeɪʃən/
the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
express in words
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Man is the second.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
sublimeadjectiveUS /səˈblaɪm/
inspiring awe
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
synagoguenounUS /ˈsɪnəɡɔːɡ/
(Judaism) the place of worship for a Jewish congregation
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
a more or less definite period of time now or previously present
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Such being the case, and a convent having happened to be on our road, it has been our duty to enter it.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
(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 Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading What a contemplation for the mind, and what endless food for thought, is the reverberation of God upon the human wall!
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Because the convent, which is common to the Orient as well as to the Occident, to antiquity as well as to modern times, to paganism, to Buddhism, to Mahometanism, as well as to Christianity, is one of the optical apparatuses applied by man to the Infinite.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
belonging to which person
From this reading This book is a drama, whose leading personage is the Infinite.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Why?
wigwamnounUS /ˈwɪɡwɑːm/
a Native American lodge frequently having an oval shape and covered with bark or hides
From this reading There is, in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, in the wigwam, a hideous side which we execrate, and a sublime side, which we adore.
in the company of; together with
From this reading This is not the place for enlarging disproportionately on certain ideas; nevertheless, while absolutely maintaining our reserves, our restrictions, and even our indignations, we must say that every time we encounter man in the Infinite, either well or ill understood, we feel ourselves overpowered with respect.
