used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
AlasexclamationUS /əˈlæs/
used to show sadness, pity, or regret
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
attainverbUS /əˈteɪn/
to gain with effort
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
awfullyadverbUS /ˈɑːfli/
used as intensifiers
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
see with attention
From this reading And what did I behold?
bulkyadjectiveUS /ˈbʌlki/
of large size for its weight
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
bull-dog
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
coffee-berry
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
comparisonnounUS /kəmˈperəsən/
the act of examining resemblances
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
decentadjectiveUS /ˈdiːsənt/
socially or conventionally correct; refined or virtuous
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
dissatisfactionnounUS /ˌdɪsætɪˈsfækʃən/
the feeling of being displeased and discontent
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
engendersverbUS /ˈeŋɡəndərz/
third-person singular of “engender” — call forth
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
divisible by two
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
at any time
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
a boy or man
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
be agreeable or acceptable to
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
the part of the face above the eyes
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
the solid part of the earth's surface
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
heightsnounUS /haɪts/
a high place
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
improveverbUS /ˌɪmˈpruːv/
to make better
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
having or showing profound knowledge
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
looking-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
a strong positive emotion of regard and affection
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
engage in
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
moustachenounUS /ˈmʌstæʃ/
an unshaved growth of hair on the upper lip
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
oneself
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
prosaicadjectiveUS /proʊˈzeɪɪk/
not fanciful or imaginative
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
sound loudly and sonorously
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
roastedadjectiveUS /ˈroʊstəd/
(meat) cooked by dry heat in an oven
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
plural of “rose” — any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
except for; apart from
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
SinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
square-builtadjective
broad and solidly built
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
stubbyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌbi/
short and blunt
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
thistlesnounUS /ˈθɪsəlz/
plural of “thistle” — any of numerous plants of the family Compositae and especially of the genera Carduus and Cirsium and Onopordum having prickly-edged leaves
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
Ticknor's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
make physical contact with, come in contact with
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
hard to endure
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
turbulentadjectiveUS /ˈtɜːrbjələnt/
characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
unpicturesqueadjective
without beauty or charm
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
UPONprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
precisely as stated
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading And what did I behold?
at the time that
From this reading Never had I seemed to myself so low, so awfully prosaic and unpicturesque, as when I was trying to make myself look decent that very evening.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
which person or people
From this reading Since then I have learned that even pretty girls, who are roses to thistles in comparison with us, are never quite certain at their looking-glass that another touch might not improve them.
in the company of; together with
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading UPON THE GROUND Alas! to come down from those pleasant heights, if ever I did attain to them, to the turbulent dissatisfaction with oneself, and contempt of every creature in the world, save one, which lonely love engenders!
of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk
From this reading A square-built fellow, with a stubby yellow moustache, and a nose fit for the ring,--or to have a ring through it,--a great bulky forehead, like Ticknor's bull-dog, and cheeks like a roasted coffee-berry.
