Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

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

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading A ball-room bard, a foolscap, hot-press darling?

a lyric poet

From this reading A ball-room bard, a foolscap, hot-press darling?

have

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

in a beautiful manner

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

for the reason that

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

cause to be bored

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

(usually plural) a polite expression of desire for someone's welfare

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

an exclusive circle of people with a common purpose

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

without light

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

a special loved one

From this reading A ball-room bard, a foolscap, hot-press darling?

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

an inclination to withhold approval from some person or group

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

past form of “examine” — consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

offering fun and gaiety

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

a person who lacks good judgment

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

a size of paper used especially in Britain

From this reading A ball-room bard, a foolscap, hot-press darling?

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

plural of “garter” — a band (usually elastic) worn around the leg to hold up a stocking (or around the arm to hold up a sleeve)

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

destroyed or killed

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading A ball-room bard, a foolscap, hot-press darling?

the quality of a color as determined by its dominant wavelength

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

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

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

plural of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

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

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

a formal reception of visitors or guests (as at a royal court)

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

something that is regarded as a chance event

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

plural of “miss” — a young female

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

plural of “nature” — the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

not any; not one

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

above and across; more than

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

a person of refined upbringing and manners

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

be shown or be found to be

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

a purple color or pigment

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

having corresponding sounds especially terminal sounds

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

express in words

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

an educational institution

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

of or relating to an angel of the first order

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

in a peacefully serene manner

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

third-person singular of “sing” — deliver by singing

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

-ing form of “snarl” — utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

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

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

in or at or to some place

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

plural of “stanza” — a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

gregarious birds native to the Old World

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

not in physical motion

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

plural of “stocking” — close-fitting hosiery to cover the foot and leg; come in matched pairs (usually used in the plural)

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

inflected form of “swear” — utter obscenities or profanities

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

plural of “virtue” — the quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading What! can I prove ‘a lion’ then no more?

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

using or containing too many words

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet some of you are most seraphic creatures— But times are alter’d since, a rhyming lover, You read my stanzas, and I read your features: And—but no matter, all those things are over; Still I have no dislike to learned natures, For sometimes such a world of virtues cover; I knew one woman of that purple school, The loveliest, chastest, best, but—quite a fool.

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

From this reading To bear the compliments of many a bore, And sigh, ‘I can’t get out,’ like Yorick’s starling; Why then I’ll swear, as poet Wordy swore (Because the world won’t read him, always snarling), That taste is gone, that fame is but a lottery, Drawn by the blue-coat misses of a coterie.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading O! ‘darkly, deeply, beautifully blue,’ As some one somewhere sings about the sky, And I, ye learned ladies, say of you; They say your stockings are so (Heaven knows why, I have examined few pair of that hue); Blue as the garters which serenely lie Round the Patrician left-legs, which adorn The festal midnight, and the levee morn.