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English Hours
English Hours

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of English Hours is here in full — 426 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

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Context Illustration Reading 1/85 · 5 lines
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1888.
BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.
Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.
If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.
For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.
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LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

English Hours

Chapter II

Chapter 2 of English Hours is here in full — 426 sentences across 86 reading sections, with audio for every sentence and word.

Reading 1/85 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
1888.
Line 2
BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.
/ˈbraʊnɪŋ ɪn ˌwestˈmɪnstər ˈæbi ðə ˈlʌvərz ʌv ə ɡreɪt ˈpoʊət ɑːr ðə ˈpiːpəl ɪn ðə wɜːrld huː ɑːr moʊst tuː biː fərˈɡɪvən ə ˈlɪtəl ˈwɔːntən ˈfænsi əˈbaʊt hɪm fɔːr ðeɪ hæv bɪˈfɔːr ðem ɪn hɪz ˈdʒiːnjəs ənd wɜːrk æn ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl ɪɡˈzæmpəl ʌv ðə ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən ʌv ðə ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv ˈmeθəd tuː ə ˈθaʊzənd ˈsʌbdʒɪkts/
Line 3
Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.
/ˈsɜːrtənli ˈðerfɔːr ðer ɑːr ˈmeni kənˈfɜːrmd ədˈmaɪrərz ʌv ˈrɑːbərt ˈbraʊnɪŋ tuː huːm ɪt wɪl nɑːt hæv feɪld tuː əˈkɜːr ðæt ðə kənˈsaɪnmənt ʌv hɪz ˈæʃ.ɪz tuː ðə ɡreɪt ˈtempəl ʌv feɪm ʌv ðə ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ reɪs wɑːz ɪɡˈzæktli wʌn ʌv ðoʊz əˈkeɪʒənz ɪn wɪtʃ hɪz oʊn ˌænəˈlɪtɪk ˈspɪrət wʊd hæv rɪˈdʒɔɪst ənd hɪz ˌɪrəˈpresəbəl ˈfækəlti fɔːr ˈlʊkɪŋ æt ˈhjuːmən ɪˈvents ɪn ɔːl sɔːrts ʌv ˈslæntɪŋ ˈkʌlərd laɪts hæv faʊnd ə ˈsɪɡnəl ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/
Line 4
If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.
Line 5
For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.
/fɔːr sʌtʃ æn əˈkeɪʒən wʊd hæv lækt fɔːr ðə ˈɔːθər ʌv ðə rɪŋ ənd ðə bʊk nʌn ʌv ðə kəmˈpleksəti ənd ˌkɑːnvərtɪˈbɪlɪti ðæt wɜːr dɪr tuː hɪm/

Learner Dictionary

These definitions explain words found in the current reading and keep every example grounded in its original sentence.

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, and audio.

analytic adjective US /ˌænəˈlɪtɪk/

using or subjected to a methodology using algebra and calculus

From this reading “Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.”

complexity noun US /kəmˈpleksəti/

the quality of being intricate and compounded

From this reading “For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.”

consignment noun US /kənˈsaɪnmənt/

goods carried by a large vehicle

From this reading “Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.”

convertibility noun US /ˌkɑːnvərtɪˈbɪlɪti/

the quality of being exchangeable (especially the ability to convert a currency into gold or other currencies without restriction)

From this reading “For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.”

intertwined verb US /ˌɪntərˈtwaɪnd/

past form of “intertwine” — spin, wind, or twist together

From this reading “If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.”

irrepressible adjective US /ˌɪrəˈpresəbəl/

impossible to repress or control

From this reading “Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.”

metaphysical adjective US /ˌmetəˈfɪzɪkəl/

pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics

From this reading “If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.”

pictorial adjective US /pɪkˈtɔːriəl/

pertaining to or consisting of pictures

From this reading “If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.”

Word partnerships in these lines

English keeps certain words together, and knowing the pair is worth more than knowing each word alone. Every partnership below was counted across our whole published library, and earns its place by appearing far more often than two unrelated words of the same frequency would.

Shown as this reading writes them, with the form the library counts, what kind of pairing it is, and how often it occurs.

great poet adjective + noun

In this reading “BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.”

all sorts adjective + noun counted as “all sort”

In this reading “Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.”

in the world preposition + article + noun counted as “in … world”

In this reading “BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.”

All words in this reading · 127

Every word in these five lines is listed here, and every one of them can be played on its own.

Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

1888

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

From this reading 1888.

adeterminerUS /ə/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

ABBEYnounUS /ˈæbi/

a church associated with a monastery or convent

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

admirersnounUS /ədˈmaɪrərz/

plural of “admirer” — a person who backs a politician or a team etc.

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

alladjectiveUS /ɔːl/

(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 Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

andeterminerUS /æn/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

analyticadjectiveUS /ˌænəˈlɪtɪk/

using or subjected to a methodology using algebra and calculus

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

applicationnounUS /ˌæpləˈkeɪʃən/

the act of bringing something to bear; using it for a particular purpose

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

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

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

ashesnounUS /ˈæʃ.ɪz/

The powdery residue left after the burning of a substance.

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

atprepositionUS /æt/

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

authornounUS /ˈɔːθər/

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

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

beauxiliary verbUS /biː/

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/

the past participle of “be”

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

beforeprepositionUS /bɪˈfɔːr/

earlier than; in front of

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

BooknounUS /bʊk/

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

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

BROWNINGnounUS /ˈbraʊnɪŋ/

United States inventor of firearms (especially automatic pistols and repeating rifles and a machine gun called the Peacemaker) (1855-1926)

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

canmodal verbUS /kæn/

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

casenounUS /keɪs/

an occurrence of something

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

CertainlyadverbUS /ˈsɜːrtənli/

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

colouredadjectiveUS /ˈkʌlərd/

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

complexitynounUS /kəmˈpleksəti/

the quality of being intricate and compounded

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

comprehensiveadjectiveUS /ˌkɑːmpriˈhensɪv/

including all or everything

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

confirmedadjectiveUS /kənˈfɜːrmd/

of persons; not subject to change

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

confusedadjectiveUS /kənˈfjuːzd/

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

consignmentnounUS /kənˈsaɪnmənt/

goods carried by a large vehicle

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

convertibilitynounUS /ˌkɑːnvərtɪˈbɪlɪti/

the quality of being exchangeable (especially the ability to convert a currency into gold or other currencies without restriction)

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

dearadjectiveUS /dɪr/

dearly loved

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

EnglishnounUS /ˈɪŋɡlɪʃ/

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

eventsnounUS /ɪˈvents/

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

exactlyadverbUS /ɪɡˈzæktli/

indicating exactness or preciseness

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

examplenounUS /ɪɡˈzæmpəl/

an item of information that is typical of a class or group

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

facultynounUS /ˈfækəlti/

one of the inherent cognitive or perceptual powers of the mind

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

failedverbUS /feɪld/

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

famenounUS /feɪm/

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

fancynounUS /ˈfænsi/

something many people believe that is false

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

forprepositionUS /fɔːr/

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

forgivenverbUS /fərˈɡɪvən/

inflected form of “forgive” — stop blaming or grant forgiveness

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

foundverbUS /faʊnd/

set up or found

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

fromprepositionUS /frʌm/

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

geniusnounUS /ˈdʒiːnjəs/

someone who has exceptional intellectual ability and originality

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

greatadjectiveUS /ɡreɪt/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

guessverbUS /ɡes/

expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

hepronounUS /hiː/

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

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

himpronounUS /hɪm/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

hisdeterminerUS /hɪz/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

how

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

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/

characteristic of humanity

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

IfconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

imaginativeadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈmædʒənətɪv/

(used of persons or artifacts) marked by independence and creativity in thought or action

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

immediatelyadverbUS /ˌɪˈmiːdiːətli/

without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

INprepositionUS /ɪn/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

intertwinedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈtwaɪnd/

past form of “intertwine” — spin, wind, or twist together

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

irrepressibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrəˈpresəbəl/

impossible to repress or control

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

irresistibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/

impossible to resist; overpowering

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

itselfpronounUS /ˌɪtˈself/

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

lackedverbUS /lækt/

past form of “lack” — be without

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

lightsnounUS /laɪts/

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

littleadjectiveUS /ˈlɪtəl/

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

lookingnounUS /ˈlʊkɪŋ/

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

loversnounUS /ˈlʌvərz/

plural of “lover” — a person who loves someone or is loved by someone

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

manyadjectiveUS /ˈmeni/

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 Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

metaphysicaladjectiveUS /ˌmetəˈfɪzɪkəl/

pertaining to or of the nature of metaphysics

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

methodnounUS /ˈmeθəd/

a way of doing something, especially a systematic way; implies an orderly logical arrangement (usually in steps)

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

mostadverbUS /moʊst/

used to form the superlative

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

movedadjectiveUS /muːvd/

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

nonepronounUS /nʌn/

not one, and not any

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

notadverbUS /nɑːt/

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

occasionnounUS /əˈkeɪʒən/

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

occasionsnounUS /əˈkeɪʒənz/

something you have to do

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

occurverbUS /əˈkɜːr/

come to pass

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

onepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

opportunitynounUS /ˌɑːpərˈtuːnəti/

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

ownverbUS /oʊn/

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

peoplenounUS /ˈpiːpəl/

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

pictorialadjectiveUS /pɪkˈtɔːriəl/

pertaining to or consisting of pictures

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

poetnounUS /ˈpoʊət/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

professornounUS /prəˈfesər/

someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

racenounUS /reɪs/

any competition

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

rejoicedverbUS /rɪˈdʒɔɪst/

past form of “rejoice” — feel happiness or joy

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

RingverbUS /rɪŋ/

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

RobertnounUS /ˈrɑːbərt/

United States parliamentary authority and author (in 1876) of Robert's Rules of Order (1837-1923)

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

scrapedverbUS /skreɪpt/

past form of “scrape” — scratch repeatedly

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

sensenounUS /sens/

a general conscious awareness

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

signalnounUS /ˈsɪɡnəl/

any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

slantingadjectiveUS /ˈslæntɪŋ/

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

someadjectiveUS /sʌm/

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

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

sortsnounUS /sɔːrts/

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

sparksnounUS /spɑːrks/

plural of “spark” — a momentary flash of light

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

spiritnounUS /ˈspɪrət/

the vital principle or animating force within living things

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

splendidlyadverbUS /ˈsplendədli/

extremely well

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

subjectnounUS /səbˈdʒekt/

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

subjectsnounUS /ˈsʌbdʒɪkts/

plural of “subject” — the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

suchdeterminerUS /sʌtʃ/

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

takenadjectiveUS /ˈteɪkən/

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

templenounUS /ˈtempəl/

place of worship consisting of an edifice for the worship of a deity

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

thatconjunctionUS /ðæt/

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

ThedeterminerUS /ðə/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

thempronounUS /ðem/

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

thereadverbUS /ðer/

in or at that place or location

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

thereforeadverbUS /ˈðerfɔːr/

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

thosedeterminerUS /ðoʊz/

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

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

thousandnounUS /ˈθaʊzənd/

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

toparticleUS /tuː/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

utterancenounUS /ˈʌtərəns/

the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

wantonverbUS /ˈwɔːntən/

waste time; spend one's time idly or inefficiently

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

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

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

wepronounUS /wiː/

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

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

From this reading For such an occasion would have lacked, for the author of “The Ring and the Book,” none of the complexity and convertibility that were dear to him.

WESTMINSTERnounUS /ˌwestˈmɪnstər/

a borough of Greater London on the Thames; contains Buckingham Palace and the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

whichpronounUS /wɪtʃ/

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

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

whopronounUS /huː/

which person or people

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

whompronounUS /huːm/

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

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

willmodal verbUS /wɪl/

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

withprepositionUS /wɪð/

in the company of; together with

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

workverbUS /wɜːrk/

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

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

worldnounUS /wɜːrld/

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading BROWNING IN WESTMINSTER ABBEY The lovers of a great poet are the people in the world who are most to be forgiven a little wanton fancy about him, for they have before them, in his genius and work, an irresistible example of the application of the imaginative method to a thousand subjects.

wouldmodal verbUS /wʊd/

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

From this reading Certainly, therefore, there are many confirmed admirers of Robert Browning to whom it will not have failed to occur that the consignment of his ashes to the great temple of fame of the English race was exactly one of those occasions in which his own analytic spirit would have rejoiced and his irrepressible faculty for looking at human events in all sorts of slanting coloured lights have found a signal opportunity.

yetconjunctionUS /jet/

but in spite of that

From this reading If he had been taken with it as a subject, if it had moved him to the confused yet comprehensive utterance of which he was the great professor, we can immediately guess at some of the sparks he would have scraped from it, guess how splendidly, in the case, the pictorial sense would have intertwined itself with the metaphysical.

Chapter 2 of English Hours by Henry James holds 426 sentences, grouped into 86 reading sections of at most 5 sentences. The text is the source edition, unabridged, and the chapter records which sentences cover which part of the work so that nothing is dropped. Every word can be tapped for its pronunciation and dictionary entry.

What does chapter 2 of English Hours contain?

Chapter 2 holds 426 sentences of English Hours, unabridged, divided into 86 reading sections.

This page carries chapter 2 of English Hours by Henry James exactly as it stands in the source edition, without abridgement. It runs to 426 sentences, grouped into 86 sections of at most 5 sentences so that a reader can take the chapter in steady, finishable pieces. The chapter also stores a coverage record mapping every one of its sentences to a part of the work, which is how the edition demonstrates that no line was dropped.

How do I study chapter 2 of English Hours?

Work through the 86 sections in order, replaying any sentence and tapping unfamiliar words for their entries.

Each of the 86 sections in this chapter is short enough to read once, hear once, and then re-read with the vocabulary in view. Tapping a word plays it alone and opens its dictionary entry with IPA, part of speech and meaning, so the reader is never forced to guess a pronunciation from spelling. Working section by section keeps a long chapter from becoming an undifferentiated wall of text, which is the usual reason a reader abandons a work of this period.

Can chapter 2 be read aloud to me?

Yes — every sentence and every individual word in chapter 2 can be played aloud in United States English.

Audio covers the whole chapter: any sentence can be played, and any single word within it can be played on its own. The voice uses United States English. For a work of this period that matters, because spelling is an unreliable guide to pronunciation for vocabulary that has fallen out of daily use, and a learner who guesses wrong tends to keep the error. Hearing the word in its own sentence, and then alone, settles it.

Questions about reading English Hours

Common questions about reading English Hours by Henry James on this page, its source edition and its audio.

Is this the complete text of English Hours?

Yes. All 2442 sentences of Project Gutenberg eBook #58938 are kept, with a record of which sentences cover which part.

Which edition of English Hours is used?

Project Gutenberg eBook #58938, unabridged. The Project Gutenberg header, footer and licence are removed.

How long does English Hours take to read?

About 203 minutes of reading across 489 sections of 5 sentences each, at an unhurried pace.

How to read English Hours section by section

How to work through English Hours section by section, using the audio and the tap-to-define vocabulary.

  1. Open a chapter

    Choose one of the 6 chapters of English Hours to begin.

  2. Read one section

    Each section holds 5 sentences; read it once through.

  3. Listen and tap

    Play the section aloud, then tap any unfamiliar word for its entry.

Vocabulary met early in English Hours

Words and structures a reader meets early in English Hours, each tappable for pronunciation and meaning.

Inconsistent
A word that appears in the opening chapter of English Hours; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Hyphenation
A word that appears in the opening chapter of English Hours; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Spelling
A word that appears in the opening chapter of English Hours; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.
Original
A word that appears in the opening chapter of English Hours; the reader can tap it to hear it and see its dictionary entry.