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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 SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
according
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
agonized
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
all
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
amusements
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
andeterminerUS /æn/
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
ANDconjunctionUS /ənd/
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
animated
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
anothernounUS /ˈanother/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
appearancenounUS /ˈappearance/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
bard
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
beauxiliary verbUS /biː/
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
bear
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
beheld
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
believenounUS /ˈbelieve/
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
beloved
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
benevolent
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
biped
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
ButconjunctionUS /bʌt/
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
butchered
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
BYprepositionUS /baɪ/
showing who or what does the action
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
character
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
complacency
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
condemnation
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
considered
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
contrived
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
coursed
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
creatures
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
crueladjectiveUS /ˈkruːəl/
causing pain or showing no kindness
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
delightful
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
despiteprepositionUS /dɪˈspaɪt/
although something is true; in spite of
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
dothauxiliary verbUS /dɔːθ/
an old form of “does”
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
down
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
dwelling
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
dying
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
entangled
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
epic
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
EVENT
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From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
exceedingly
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
eyes
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
facetious
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
flies
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
fly
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
forprepositionUS /fɔːr/
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
gazed
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
general
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
goodnounUS /good/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
Grand
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
grave
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
GREATnounUS /great/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
happened
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
hepronounUS /hiː/
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
hilarious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
himpronounUS /hɪm/
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
HISTORY
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From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
HUMAN
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From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
humane
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
IpronounUS /aɪ/
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
illustration
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
imaginative
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
IMPORTANT
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From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
imprisoned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
INprepositionUS /ɪn/
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
ingeniousadjectiveUS /ɪnˈdʒiː.ni.əs/
Clever, original, and remarkably inventive in design and execution.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
innocent
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
Inquisitor
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
insects
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
irresistibly
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
ISauxiliary verbUS /ɪz/
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
itpronounUS /ɪt/
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
just
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
kind
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
knew
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
laugh
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
LIFEnounUS /life/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
littlenounUS /little/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
living
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
loved
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
Lucan
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
ludicrous
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
MAKES
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From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
Many
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
MARKED
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From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
meek
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
members
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
metaphysical
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
more
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
most
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
murdered
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
mydeterminerUS /maɪ/
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
nature
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
Necessity
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
nodeterminerUS /noʊ/
not any; not one
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
nose
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
nothingpronounUS /ˈnʌθɪŋ/
not one thing; not anything
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
Now
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
ofprepositionUS /ʌv/
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
ONEpronounUS /wʌn/
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
only
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
operation
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
opinion
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
ornament
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From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
other
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
own
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
partnounUS /part/
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
philosopher
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
pleasure
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
poet's
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
pointnounUS /pɔɪnt/
the main matter or purpose being discussed
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
PROGRESS
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From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
put
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
said
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
seem
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
shouldmodal verbUS /ʃʊd/
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
simile
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
simple
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
soconjunctionUS /soʊ/
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
soberadjectiveUS /ˈsoʊbər/
not affected by alcohol
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
soldier
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading To the bard, the butchered soldier was only an epic ornament; to the philosopher, the murdered fly was only a metaphysical illustration.
speculator
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
spider's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
SPINOZA
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
stand
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
strange
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
strike
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
struggles
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
subtleist
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
system
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From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
tears
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
tenets
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
terrors
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
thanconjunctionUS /ðæn/
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
THEdeterminerUS /ðə/
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
theoretical
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
thereat
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From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/
for that reason; as a result
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
thesedeterminerUS /ðiːz/
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
thisdeterminerUS /ðɪs/
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
toparticleUS /tuː/
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
types
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
unphilosophical
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
untoprepositionUS /ˈʌntuː/
an old word for “to”
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
uspronounUS /ʌs/
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
vary
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
Verse
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
view
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
vision
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
voices
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From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
ways
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
web
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
WHEREIN
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHEREIN THE HISTORY MAKES GREAT PROGRESS AND IS MARKED BY ONE IMPORTANT EVENT IN HUMAN LIFE.
whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
whopronounUS /huː/
which person or people
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
wild
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
winged
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Now it so happened that Spinoza, despite the general (and, in my most meek opinion, the just) condemnation of his theoretical tenets,* was, in character and in nature, according to the voices of all who knew him, an exceedingly kind, humane, and benevolent biped; and it doth, therefore, seem a little strange unto us grave, sober members of the unphilosophical Many, that the struggles and terrors of these little winged creatures should strike the good subtleist in a point of view so irresistibly ludicrous and delightful.
withprepositionUS /wɪð/
in the company of; together with
From this reading But, for my part, I believe that that most imaginative and wild speculator beheld in the entangled flies nothing more than a living simile--an animated illustration--of his own beloved vision of Necessity; and that he is no more to be considered cruel for the complacency with which he gazed upon those agonized types of his system than is Lucan for dwelling with a poet’s pleasure upon the many ingenious ways with which that Grand Inquisitor of Verse has contrived to vary the simple operation of dying.
wont
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”
wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading SPINOZA is said to have loved, above all other amusements, to put flies into a spider’s web; and the struggles of the imprisoned insects were wont to bear, in the eyes of this grave philosopher, so facetious and hilarious an appearance, that he would stand and laugh thereat until the tears “coursed one another down his innocent nose.”