Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

(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 He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

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

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

expected hopefully

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

plural of “attack” — (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

French novelist; he portrays the complexity of 19th century French society (1799-1850)

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

for the reason that

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

Italian poet (born in France) (1313-1375)

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

fearless and daring

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

a period of 100 years

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

past form of “claim” — assert or affirm strongly; state to be true or existing

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

light and humorous drama with a happy ending

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

plural of “critic” — a person who is professionally engaged in the analysis and interpretation of works of art

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

plural of “dame” — informal terms for a (young) woman

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

dearly loved

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

a period marked by distinctive character or reckoned from a fixed point or event

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

full of events or incidents

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

the act of conducting a controlled test or investigation

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

unflinching in battle or action

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

plural of “knight” — originally a person of noble birth trained to arms and chivalry; today in Great Britain a person honored by the sovereign for personal merit

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

creative writing of recognized artistic value

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

engage in

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

social deportment

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

march in a procession

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

full of or showing high-spirited merriment

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

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

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

coated with paint

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

the capital and largest city of France; and international center of culture and commerce

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

an amount of time

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

a short introductory essay preceding the text of a book

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

the activity of protecting someone or something

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

prepared and printed for distribution and sale

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

possessive form of “publisher” — a firm in the publishing business

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

the only fertile female in a colony of social insects such as bees and ants and termites; its function is to lay eggs

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

author of satirical attacks on medieval scholasticism (1494-1553)

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

inflected form of “reply” — react verbally

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

coming next after the fifteenth in position

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

be standing; be upright

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The gallant knights and merry dames of that eventful period of French history stand out in bold relief upon his canvas.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

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

From this reading Like Boccaccio, Rabelais, the Queen of Navarre, Ariosto, and Verville, the great author of _The Human Comedy_ has painted an epoch.

a Roman Catholic priest who acts for another higher-ranking clergyman

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

at the time that

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

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

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading In the fresh and wonderful language of the Merry Vicar Of Meudon, he has given us a marvellous picture of French life and manners in the sixteenth century.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He claimed for his book the protection of all those to whom literature was dear, because it was a work of art--and a work of art, in the highest sense of the word, it undoubtedly is.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading When, in March, 1832, the first volume of the now famous _Contes Drolatiques_ was published by Gosselin of Paris, Balzac, in a short preface, written in the publisher's name, replied to those attacks which he anticipated certain critics would make upon his hardy experiment.