used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
completely unclothed
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
the qualities that give pleasure to the senses
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
biographernounUS /baɪˈɑːɡrəfər/
someone who writes an account of a person's life
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
brutes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
collectionnounUS /kəˈlekʃən/
several things grouped together or considered as a whole
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
compositionnounUS /ˌkɑːmpəˈzɪʃən/
the spatial property resulting from the arrangement of parts in relation to each other and to the whole
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
descriptiveadjectiveUS /dɪˈskrɪptɪv/
serving to describe or inform or characterized by description
From this reading We will notice _descriptive poetry_ first.
Empedoclesnoun
Greek philosopher who taught that all matter is composed of particles of fire and water and air and earth (fifth century BC)
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading We will notice _descriptive poetry_ first.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
harmoniousadjectiveUS /hɑːrˈmoʊniəs/
musically pleasing
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
historiannounUS /hɪˈstɔːriən/
a person who is an authority on history and who studies it and writes about it
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
the aggregate of past events
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
for more time
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
engage in
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
the message that is intended or expressed or signified
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
not one and not the other of two
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
not any; not one
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
an announcement containing information about an event
From this reading We will notice _descriptive poetry_ first.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
Oppian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
have ownership or possession of
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
coated with paint
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
philosophynounUS /fɪˈlɑː.sə.fi/
The study of the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, and existence. (Triết học, đạo lý nhân sinh.)
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
physicsnounUS /ˈfɪzɪks/
the science of matter and energy and their interactions
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
literature in metrical form
From this reading We will notice _descriptive poetry_ first.
poetsnounUS /ˈpoʊəts/
plural of “poet” — a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
plural of “principle” — a basic generalization that is accepted as true and that can be used as a basis for reasoning or conduct
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
literature in metrical form
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We will notice _descriptive poetry_ first.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Neither were poets--the one was an historian of nature, the other a sort of biographer of brutes.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading We will notice _descriptive poetry_ first.
in the company of; together with
From this reading But under his hands they are no longer a bare collection of facts or principles, but are painted with a meaning, beauty, and harmonious order not their own.
inflected form of “write” — produce a literary work
From this reading Empedocles wrote his physics in verse, and Oppian his history of animals.
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet a poet may make natural history or philosophy the material of his composition.
